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While a native community in British Columbia appears to be the first to undergo a new wave of influenza A (H1N1), at the other end of the country, Quebec has unveiled what people will be vaccinated first.

This is essentially the same categories as those determined by the federal Wednesday. The health care workers, pregnant women, children aged 6 months to 5 years old and the chronically ill aged under 65 will be among those vaccinated first.

It will be the same with the residents of remote communities, particularly those living in northern Quebec.

But the approximately 11.5 million doses purchased for the province are not yet available. As is the case for the rest of Canada, the vaccination campaign is unlikely to begin before mid-November. The company GlaxoSmithKline is still at the stage of clinical trials.

“We have no choice. It must be tested. All companies are testing the health and safety before introducing (vaccine) and before Health Canada approves a vaccine, “said National Director of Public Health in Quebec, Dr. Alain Poirier,.

Pregnant women and perhaps young children aged under 3 years may receive a vaccine without adjuvant if desired.

The adjuvant is a product added to the vaccine to stimulate a better immune response and produce more doses. However, it can cause side effects in some cases, especially with fever. Therefore, pregnant women and toddlers can have a vaccine that does not.

Once those most at risk vaccinated, the vaccination campaign will continue with youth aged 5 to 18 years, first responders such as police and firefighters and the general population.

Parents with babies under six months should also consider getting vaccinated to protect their babies who themselves are too young to be vaccinated, said Dr. Poirier.

“The vaccination is not compulsory,” he repeated. But for the first time, we will offer a vaccine to the entire population. This is unheard of. ”

The vaccination campaign will be held within 30 days, said his colleague Michel C. Dore, the Government Coordinator for the civil security.

“We have an adequate supply to vaccinate the entire population in need and in a very short period of time.”

For now, the index is relatively low influenza in the province. About one per day has been recorded since the beginning of the month. “We are truly in the bottomed out,” said Dr. Poirier, however, expected to increase soon. “Is that the second wave will arrive faster? We still think so. ”

A small native community living in Flores Island, British Columbia, also appears to be the first in the country facing a new wave of influenza A (H1N1).

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