INUVIK - If you're trying to avoid the flu, take note: the vaccination schedule has been released and this year there are two flus to worry about.

Since the H1N1 flu is the most common illness showing up right now, vaccines for that virus will be available first for most people, according to Dr. Kami Kandola, acting chief public health officer for the NWT.

Dr. Kami Kandola, acting chief public health officer, announced the flu vaccination schedule for the NWT on Monday. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

At a press conference on Monday, Kandola explained that even though the majority of H1N1 cases are mild, it's the dominant flu this season. The plan is to knock out the illness with vaccinations, and then prevent the regular seasonal flu from taking over. The territory will get its entire shipment of H1N1 vaccine in mid-November. No specific dates are available.

"Across Canada, there's a lot of debate about who gets the vaccine first. We in the NWT are getting all our vaccines for all our population at one time," said Kandola.

The NWT is on the priority list for the federal government, along with Nunavut and Yukon, she said, because the territories are rural and remote. Senior citizens will receive a different vaccine timeline, as they are the exception to the norm this season.

"For some reason, we have not found across the nation and worldwide, as many cases of H1N1 in our senior population but seniors are quite vulnerable to seasonal influenza," said Kandola.

People over 65 will receive the first wave of vaccinations when they receive seasonal flu shots in mid-October.

The next wave starts when the H1N1 vaccine arrives in November. At this point, "action teams" including registered nurses will be trained in giving the vaccine. Teams will vaccinate Yellowknifers and then spread out to the communities, giving the shots to whoever wants them. Then they will turn to attacking the seasonal flu virus.

"We would expect a drop of circulation in the H1N1 strain," said Kandola. "What will happen toward December and January is that seasonal flu strains will start to increase."

The seasonal flu vaccines, usually administered from mid-October to mid-November, are being pushed back to January. Vaccines for 75 per cent of the territorial population have been ordered.

"If we need more, we'll get more, but we think it's a good estimate, that would be the highest coverage we ever got," Kandola said.

Even if people don't feel they're at risk, it's a good idea to get vaccinated, said Laurie Parton, manager of the Yellowknife public health unit. "The more people that receive the vaccine, the greater the protection that is in the community."

An unpublished Canadian report has recently raised fears that the seasonal flu vaccine makes people more likely to contract H1N1 but Kandola said the report has not been proven and that studies in the U.K. and U.S. "have not been able to replicate this data."

The mass immunization plan does not mean that people need to be fearful, she said.

"The majority of H1N1 cases in North America have experienced mild symptoms and have recovered on their own, at home," said Kandola. The reason for vaccinating everyone is that certain groups are at risk, including pregnant women, children and those with heart and respiratory diseases.

It was previously thought that two doses of H1N1 vaccine would be needed for adults, but new research has shown that one dose is enough. Children under 10 years of age will receive two doses, the second four weeks after the first.

Those who think they may have H1N1 symptoms should stay home, Kandola said. Those with concerns should contact the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, or NWT's Influenza Information Line.