Health Minister Defends H1N1 Roll Out

Josh Pringle
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Federal Health Minister is defending the Federal Government’s decision to roll out the H1N1 flu vaccine to high-risk priority groups first.

Leona Aglukkaq says the Federal Government and the provinces could have made a choice to distribute the vaccine in December when everything was ready, but instead decided to inoculate the high-priority groups when the vaccine was ready last month

Aglukkaq adds the immunization campaign was planned for early November, but staff worked to get authorization two weeks early.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says 10 to 20 per cent of residents in many communities have been vaccinated in the first week and a half of the H1N1 vaccination campaign.

Dr. David Butler-Jones says Canada has vaccinated more people than any other country in the world.