SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The largest vaccination campaign in Canadian history came to Yellowknife on Monday where more than 300 residents received the vaccine in the first three hours.

Fifteen year-old Becca McCarthy receives the H1N1 shot from public health nurse Mary Carol Miller at the Multiplex on Monday. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo Vaccination schedule Wednesday, Oct. 28 - 12 to 7.30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 - 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 - 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As the 12 p.m. start time approached, early bird Yellowknifers formed an orderly line outside the make-shift clinic at the Multiplex arena. The fast moving cue initially wound for several metres outside the building.

Health Minister Sandy Lee said she was struck by the number of people who came.

"It looks like everyone has seen the ads and they knew where to come," she said. "I'm amazed at the turnout."

Lee said she was getting her flu shot on the opening day to encourage others to do the same.

"I came here to get it so I could show by example that this is what we need to do," she said.

"We all need to do this, we need to all take responsibility for taking the vaccination shot for ourselves and our families so that we stop the spread."

Lee's federal counterpart, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, and Canada's chief medical officer, Dr. David Butler Jones, were in Yellowknife last Friday, urging NWT residents to get the shot. Jones said there has been much misinformation going around concerning the vaccine.

"If you get the real facts about the vaccine you will almost certainly choose immunization," said Jones. "Knowledge is our best defence."

The process took between 10 to 20 minutes from arriving at the Multiplex to receiving the vaccine, but that didn't include the recommended 15 minute observation period, where vaccine recipients were asked to sit down for a few moments.

Everyone Yellowknifer spoke with in the observation area said the shot was essentially a non-event and relatively painless.

"I feel great," said Khara Pich.

Mike Jackson, who came with his young son, said he gets the regular flu vaccine every year.

NWT chief public health officer Dr. Kami Kandola, her husband Norman Mair and their 18 month-old son Jordan Mair were also at the clinic for their shots.

After receiving hers, Kandola said the shot was virtually unnoticeable.

Eighteen-month-old Jordan was less than impressed after getting his jab in the leg, but a piece of candy soon cured that. Steven Leck's son Robert was also reluctantly dragged along, however the executive director of the Registered Nurses Association said he had noticed many of his classmates were absent from school, possibly because of the flu.

Leck said about 10 extra nurses had to be registered in the territory for the vaccination campaign.

Ten vaccination stations at the Multiplex were operating on Monday and shot recipients filed through efficiently.

Before receiving the shots patients were asked a couple of questions about their medical status, such as the potential allergies they might have, and whether they've had a seasonal flu vaccine shot before, or if they were pregnant.

Jen Buck, nurse practitioner and a team leader for one of the H1N1 action teams, said there is no problem should people forget to bring their health card; they are simply asked to offer their name and date of birth.

Beginning today there will be a free bus running from Ndilo to the Multiplex and looping around Finlayson Drive and Borden Drive, in order to take people to get the vaccination.

The bus service will run from 12 to 6 p.m. until Friday but will not be in operation on Saturday. Following the three week H1N1 vaccination period, the Department of Health and Social Services is recommending the public also receive the seasonal flu shot as well.

As of Monday afternoon, Damien Healy, manager of communications for Health and Social Services, said more than 1,000 people had been vaccinated against H1N1 in the NWT, including those from Yellowknife, health professionals and residents of Inuvik.

- with files from Andrea Bennington