INUVIK - The chief medical officer for the NWT is recommending residents get three flu shots this winter: the regular seasonal flu vaccine available in October, followed by the H1N1 vaccine in November and a second dose of H1N1 vaccine in January.

The NWT has ordered 80,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine - enough for everyone in the territory to receive two doses.

Dr. Kami Kandola, acting chief medical officer for the NWT, says residents should get three flu shots this winter, starting with the seasonal flu vaccine available in October. Vaccinations against H1N1, or swine flu, should be available in November and a second shot of the vaccine in January is advised. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

"It is very important for the public to receive all three shots," she said. "We are encouraging all residents to take responsibility and get vaccinated against H1N1."

She said the focus on prevention has been successful so far, with four hospitalizations and no deaths in the territory.

"I would like to reassure the public that to date the majority of H1N1 cases in North America and the NWT have been mild and people have recovered on their own at home," she said.

The H1N1 vaccine has been ordered from the federal government and Kandola said it will be delivered throughout the territory by three mobile "action teams" headed by three nurses with extensive experience in the NWT and staffed by more nurses and non-clinical support personnel.

Kandola said the H1N1 vaccine is still undergoing trials, but emphasized the safety of the public was not being compromised because the fundamentals of the vaccine are very similar to the seasonal flu vaccine.

"We've been producing the flu vaccine every year for the past 10 to 15 years, so the way that we produce this flu vaccine shouldn't be any different," she said. "But because this has been a new strain they will be doing specific trials on people and it is anticipated that this vaccine will be safe ... We're not using any different techniques than we've used in the past.

"If we had any concerns, we would let the public know, but at this point we don't have any concerns."

Along with the H1N1 vaccine, the Department of Health and Social Services has ordered an array of supplies to assist in the fight against the H1N1 flu.

Included in that list are N95 masks designed to screen out viruses, gloves, face shields and eye protectors, H1N1 testing kits, ventilators, and alcohol-based sanitizing solutions.

As well, Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug suitable for adults and children, has been ordered, plus a second anti-viral drug called Relenza, in case the H1N1 flu virus develops a resistance to Tamiflu.

Kandola said the cost of all the supplies had not been tallied up, adding the safety of NWT residents was her paramount concern.

Despite recent reports of protective mask shortages, Kandola said the orders made for medical supplies will be delivered within the next couple of weeks because the department ordered them through the federal government as opposed to a commercial route.

"The mask order that was sent to the federal government was contracted out to bidders who have guaranteed that they would have that available, and we ordered that early on - like months ago," she said.

She added there are already substantial stockpiles of medical supplies that will service the NWT for many months to come.

When asked what the Department of Health and Social Services would do in the event of an outbreak of H1N1 flu in a school, Kandola said that was up to the school boards.

"Now that schools have started we expect the H1N1 virus to increase, and it's fall so people are indoors and it's crowded, so we will be monitoring the H1N1 activity," she said.

"It will be difficult to continue the school curriculum (with high numbers of absentees) so in times such as that we'll leave it to the local school boards to decide to close the schools."

Kandola said anyone with flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, chills and fatigue, should call the NWT's flu hotline before visiting a hospital or health centre.