NUNAVUT- After weeks of build-up, H1N1 vaccinations are well underway in the territory, with more than 5,000 vaccinated by 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Greg Angnakak braves it through the H1N1 shot in Pangnirtung. - photo courtesy of David Kilabuk

Nurses started giving Iqalummiut the shots on Nov. 1.

Clinics began in other communities on Nov. 2. By Nov. 16, when the last clinic ends in Coral Harbour, all communities in the territory will have hosted vaccination teams.

There was a line-up outside the door at Inuksuk School in Iqaluit when vaccinations started at 11 a.m. Within five hours, more than 500 people had filed through to receive the shots.

Jonah Tikivik, 42, said he was there because he became worried, hearing about people catching H1N1 around Canada. "I want to be healthy," he said, waiting in line for his shot.

The Iqaluit vaccinations will continue until Nov. 7. Five teams of three nurses fanned out to hit 13 communities throughout the week, continuing on to the rest this week.

Nearly 300 people got the vaccine during a two-day blitz in Kimmirut Nov. 2 and 3, according to Leela Subramaniam, community nurse-in-charge. They had set a goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of the community and hit about 69 per cent, she said, adding it brought the community together. Students distributed vaccine leaflets door-to-door, ladies in the community baked bannock for the waiting room and Rangers helped with crowd control.

"It went smooth, no hassle," Subramaniam said. The first morning of the clinic only 20 people were there. "I thought, 'oh, please turn up,'" she said, "but then it completely changed."

People in other communities have time to consider their options as they wait for the vaccination teams.

Mary Killiktee, a wellness counsellor in Qikiqtarjuaq said she was wary of the vaccination at first.

"In the beginning I was hesitant, my plan was that I wouldn't get it," she said. After watching the news and hearing about more people getting sick, "my husband and I decided that this family's getting it once they come in," she said.

Mary Maniapik, 24, of Pangnirtung said she would also get the vaccine. "It feels safer for me to do this," she said. She was worried about the vaccine's safety at first but said she feels better now that people around the country are getting it.

David Neeveacheak, 42, of Taloyoak said he planned to get the shot when the vaccines come to town. "It's kind of scary, hearing it on the news," he said of H1N1, "it's killing people."

Some provinces have been reporting vaccine shortages, but territorial health officials say that Nunavut has enough for everyone.

"We're not facing the same distribution problems plaguing other jurisdictions," Isaac Sobel, Nunavut's chief medical officer, said after receiving his needle in Iqaluit. "We're not going to have to ration, not going to have to prioritize."