IQALUIT - Health centres across Nunavut will hold mass vaccination clinics to immunize as many Nunavummiut as possible against H1N1 swine flu influenza this fall.

Nunavut's chief medical officer of health Dr. Isaac Sobol, left, and Minister of Health Tagak Curley at a press conference last Wednesday about H1N1 flu vaccinations. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

"We've ordered enough of this vaccine for every Nunavummiut who wants to receive it, and this H1N1 flu shot is free for all Nunavummiut," said Nunavut's chief medical officer of health Isaac Sobol.

Sobol said the department is buying enough doses of the new vaccine to inoculate 75 per cent of all Nunavummiut twice, because it's not yet clear if one dose of the vaccine will be enough to provide immunity.

With Nunavut's population around 30,000 people, that makes roughly 45,000 doses. At $8 a dose, the cost is $360,000, of which the government of Nunavut will pay 60 per cent ($216,000). Health Canada pays the rest.

"The H1N1 virus is very serious," said Health Minister Tagak Curley. "It's in Nunavut and we all need to take precautions to slow its spread. And the best way to stop the spread of this flu is to get an H1N1 flu shot. I urge all Nunavummiut to be responsible and get both you and your family vaccinated against this flu virus."

The Department of Health and Social Services will have extra nurses and health staff on hand to meet the anticipated demand for flu shots.

Sobol reiterated earlier statements that the more people who get vaccinated, the slower the virus will spread among the population. Scientists call that "herd immunity," and it benefits even people who didn't get vaccinated.

When asked if H1N1 flu shots would be mandatory for front-line health care workers, Sobol responded, "This question has been asked for other vaccines in the past and it's been determined this is a human rights issue. We can't mandate anyone to take any vaccine. It's always a personal choice."

For pregnant women, the department is considering using a version of the vaccine without an adjuvant - a chemical often added to vaccines to make them more effective. Vaccine with adjuvant is considered safe for the general population, Sobol said.

The department has also launched a website with flu information, www.flunu.ca.