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Nunavut, N.W.T. H1N1 vaccine campaigns successful
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | 4:03 PM CT
CBC News
H1N1 mass vaccination programs began in the N.W.T. and Yukon on Oct. 26 and in Nunavut on Nov. 1. (CBC)
Many people across northern Canada got their swine flu shots over the past few weeks, to the relief of health officials who have encouraged everyone to be vaccinated.
A 16-day mass immunization program wrapped up Monday in Nunavut, where people in all 25 communities ? most of which are remote and accessible only by air ? were offered the H1N1 vaccine at clinics staffed by travelling teams of nurses.
Health Department numbers released Wednesday show that 60 per cent of Nunavummiut received the vaccine, which is more than double the number of those who took the seasonal flu shot last year.
By comparison, about 20 per cent of Canadians overall have received the H1N1 shot.
Health officials in the Northwest Territories say 56 per cent of the total population, or more than 24,000 people, received the H1N1 shot as of last week, when its mass immunization campaign concluded.
Swine flu has been responsible for 48 hospitalizations in the N.W.T., including two new admissions last week. Of the 48 hospitalizations, six required intensive care.
The N.W.T. is currently experiencing a second wave of H1N1 cases, but health officials say the second wave has already peaked and has been less intense than the first wave ? a situation they are attributing to the vaccinations.
Neither territory had priority lists, so the vaccine was offered to the general public as soon as campaigns began in late October and early November.
The H1N1 vaccines will still be offered in health centres across both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | 4:03 PM CT
CBC News
H1N1 mass vaccination programs began in the N.W.T. and Yukon on Oct. 26 and in Nunavut on Nov. 1. (CBC) Many people across northern Canada got their swine flu shots over the past few weeks, to the relief of health officials who have encouraged everyone to be vaccinated.
A 16-day mass immunization program wrapped up Monday in Nunavut, where people in all 25 communities ? most of which are remote and accessible only by air ? were offered the H1N1 vaccine at clinics staffed by travelling teams of nurses.
Health Department numbers released Wednesday show that 60 per cent of Nunavummiut received the vaccine, which is more than double the number of those who took the seasonal flu shot last year.
By comparison, about 20 per cent of Canadians overall have received the H1N1 shot.
Health officials in the Northwest Territories say 56 per cent of the total population, or more than 24,000 people, received the H1N1 shot as of last week, when its mass immunization campaign concluded.
Swine flu has been responsible for 48 hospitalizations in the N.W.T., including two new admissions last week. Of the 48 hospitalizations, six required intensive care.
The N.W.T. is currently experiencing a second wave of H1N1 cases, but health officials say the second wave has already peaked and has been less intense than the first wave ? a situation they are attributing to the vaccinations.
Neither territory had priority lists, so the vaccine was offered to the general public as soon as campaigns began in late October and early November.
The H1N1 vaccines will still be offered in health centres across both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.