This week, Canadian Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq, announced that Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will be able to offer every Canadian citizen a H1N1 flu vaccination (the AREPANRIX vaccine produced by Canadian manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline). Such a capacity is in in stark contrast to the United States where vaccinations are scarce and, when available, are generally only to be given to high risk groups including pregnant women, infants, young children, and adults with specific preexisting conditions.

Along with Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Minister Aglukkaq emphasized that the vaccine is safe and effective and encouraged all Canadians to get vaccinated stating, "I encourage all Canadians to get vaccinated because it is the best way to protect our health and the health of our loved ones." Dr. Butler-Jones added, "Getting the vaccine is the most effective way we know of to curb the spread of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus. I too encourage all Canadians to get the pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available in their provinces and territories." The vaccine is expected to begin being distributed in a matter of days.

Health Canada is emphasizing the safety of the vaccine stating that it has gone through rigorous testing including clinical trials and is based on the latest scientific evidence with respect to how to best protect against the virus. They stressed that all Canadians 10 years of age and older (including pregnant women) should receive one dose and children from six months and up to 10 years of age should receive the vaccine in two half-doses administered at least 21 days apart. They are not recommending the vaccine for infant less than six months of age.

Recommendations with respect to dosage differ somewhat in the United States where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has focused on high risk groups and has made no recommendation about splitting the vaccine dosage in children.

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