DEH CHO - H1N1 vaccinations are rolling out across the Deh Cho along with the rest of the territory.

Kim Riles, the nurse administrator at the Fort Simpson Health Centre, holds the vials of H1N1 vaccine that will be used to inoculate residents in the Deh Cho's smaller communities. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

On Oct. 21 federal Health Minister Leona Aqlukkaq announced that Health Canada approved the use of the vaccine. In the Deh Cho, Fort Liard was the first community to receive the vaccination. The shot was offered to residents beginning on Oct. 26.

Dehcho Health and Social Services (DHSS) already had a tentative schedule for vaccination clinics in place and was just waiting for the vaccine to receive approval, said Kathy Tsetso, the organization's chief executive officer.

In Fort Liard the staff at the health centre are running the vaccination clinic. To administer the shot in the region's smaller communities DHSS co-ordinated with its regularly scheduled clinics.

Along with the regular physician and nurse an additional nurse and a community health representative will be sent to the communities to perform the vaccinations, said Tsetso. If weather conditions permit clinics will be held in Wrigley on Oct. 28, Jean Marie River on Oct. 29 and Trout Lake on Nov. 3. Nahanni Butte's clinic, which was set for Oct. 26 but cancelled due to poor flying conditions, will be rescheduled, said Tsetso.

Immunization action teams, working across the territory, are scheduled to help administer the vaccines in the larger Deh Cho communities including Fort Simpson from Nov. 4 to 5 and Fort Providence along with Kakisa on Nov. 6 and 7.

The vaccine is free and available to everyone aged six months and older. The goal in the Deh Cho and across the territory is to vaccinate everyone who wants the shot, said Tsetso.

Tsetso, who plans to get her shot as soon as possible, is strongly encouraging other people to do the same.

"The vaccine is the best way to protect ourselves from the virus," she said.

Tsetso said she has fielded questions from residents concerned if it is safe. Her answer is the vaccine has been approved by Health Canada and is the best defense available at this point.

"It's up to people, it's their choice," said Tsetso.

"We're encouraging people to take it."

There have been confirmed cases of H1N1 in the Deh Cho since the summer. Across the territory as of Oct. 26 there have been 24 hospitalizations and two cases of severe respiratory illness related to the virus. Seventy-five per cent of the territory's communities have reported flu activity.

In addition to the H1N1 vaccine anyone over the age of 65 can also get the regular flu shot at this time, said Tsetso.

The criteria was set on the direction of the chief public health officer of the NWT. The regular flu shots will be available to the rest of the population after the H1N1 campaign is over.