Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 26/05) - Kivalliq Air/Nunavut Lifeline is doing its part to battle influenza across the region again this year.

The airline has donated two tickets to any where it flies to help boost the number of Kivalliq residents who get immunized.

Public health nurse Fred Montpetit administers a flu shot to Kivalliq Air base manager John McFee in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Anyone who receives a flu shot is entered into the draw.

This marks the third year the airline has helped with the immunization drive.

Northern base manager John McFee of Rankin Inlet says the airline takes great pride in being able to help the regional health department increase the number of people who get their flu shot every year.

"It's important for as many people as possible to be immunized against the flu in the Kivalliq," says McFee.

"The tickets help get people immunized and every person who agrees to the shot represents another positive step in the battle against the flu.

"It's important for corporations to lend support where they can in the region.

"We take that very seriously at Kivalliq Air/Nunavut Lifeline."

Public health nurse Fred Montpetit says the annual contest boosts the number of people to receive their flu shot by about 40 per cent.

He says although he would like people to get the flu shot for the benefit of their health, the most important aspect is for more people to be immunized.

"The absolute best case scenario is when people take responsibility for their own health," says Montpetit.

"But if the chance to win a pair of airline tickets is what they need to be convinced to get the shot, then I'm happy.

"The main thing is that they agree to get it."

The vaccine contains inactivated pieces of dead flu virus.

Three strains are included in this year's vaccine, two types of influenza A and one type of influenza B.

The strains in the vaccine change every year.

Montpetit says flu season starts in the South Pacific. Canadian health officials monitor the virus, primarily in Australia, to see what strains are active and how they move around the globe.

"If Australia sees a lot of a particular strain or two, that's what Canadians are immunized against.

"Immunization is a tremendous benefit, but it's not an absolute guarantee you won't get sick.

"In cases where people take the shot but still get sick, they've been infected by a different strain than what they were immunized against."

Montpetit says the highest levels of success achieved by the influenza immunization are with people in the high-risk groups.

Those most at risk from influenza are children under the age of five, adults over 50 and people with chronic heart and lung conditions.

"With those groups, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt the flu shot lessens their mortality and morbidity.

"In other words, we know they don't get as sick or die as often from the flu after receiving the immunization."

Common side affects from the immunization are a sore arm and a lethargic feeling for a day or two after receiving the shot.

Fever can also strike up to 12 hours after vaccination and last for 24 to 48 hours.

Montpetit says the vaccination can be the key to a healthy winter for those living in one house with big families.

He says if there's seven people living in a house and only one received the vaccination, that person would be the only one to benefit.

But if there are seven people living in a house and six are vaccinated, the seventh would also gain a substantial measure of protection referred to as "herd immunity."

"You don't get every cow if you immunize a herd of cattle.

"But if you get 90 per cent of them, there's a far-less chance of a cow contracting any disease the herd was vaccinated against."

Montpetit says local health officials will be highly visible in Rankin during the next three weeks while offering the influenza vaccine.

He says people can request an office visit, drop by an in-house clinic, get their shot from officials at the Northern store or at the arena during bingo times.

"We've never completely run out of the vaccine, although we've been down to a few hundred doses held in reserve in case of serious outbreaks like the one in Coral Harbour in 2003.

"We have 5,000 doses for the Kivalliq this year.

"If and when that's gone, there won't be any more available."