IQALUIT - Nunavut's health minister estimates the cost of the territory's H1N1 vaccination campaign will be nearly $2 million. Minister Tagak Curley broke down the known and estimated costs in the legislative assembly on Nov. 24 and 25.

Health Minister Tagak Curley, addresses the media during an H1N1 press conference Nov. 18. - NNSL file photo

The cost of the vaccine was $200,000, said Curley, when questioned by Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliot.

That amount is split between the federal and territorial government, as it is with all provinces and territories, Curley said. "We pay 40 per cent out of that and the federal government pays 60 per cent," he said.

The cost of delivering the vaccines to all 25 communities has not yet been calculated, Curley added.

"Our estimated cost is at $1.6 million for the mass vaccination rollout in Nunavut," he said.

The method of sending vaccination teams out by charter was a good one, said Elliot, in that it ensured all the communities got the same level of care.

"I can't argue with the way they spent that money," he told News/North in an interview. "It was one of those issues where you need to do it and you need to do it right."

In an earlier statement to the house, Elliot commended the vaccination clinics in Arctic Bay.

"I rise today to express my thanks and appreciation to the hard-working health professionals and volunteers in Arctic Bay who delivered a very successful H1N1 vaccination clinic," he said.

In that statement, Elliot said he would be asking for answers to the remaining "unanswered questions" about H1N1 in the territory, but said that it was clear that considerable effort had gone into preparing for the next wave of the pandemic.

Elliot said he acknowledges that such preparation has a price.

"It's the cost of doing business and keeping people healthy so I don't mind the money going there," he said.

The health minister also made a statement on the number of H1N1 cases in the past three months.

"We've only had a handful of confirmed H1N1 cases since September in Nunavut," he said. "We are hoping the success of our mass vaccine clinics will keep this trend going."

Elliot requested the exact number.

"I didn't know if it was a big handful or a small handful and figured it would be nice to know," Elliot said of his question.

"It's better to know more information because then you have all the facts, people aren't sitting out there guessing."

Nunavut has recorded 11 confirmed cases of H1N1 since September, Curley said.

Elliot said part of his rationale in asking questions was to remind people that H1N1 was still around and not to get complacent.

"One of big things is put it back in everybody's minds and make sure they're doing everything they can to keep safe and healthy," he said.