Canada may lag behind the U.S. in rolling out the swine flu vaccine, but officials say once it's approved, Canadians will get immunized in just a few weeks -- and before infections are expected to peak.
David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public officer of health, says once the immunization program begins in November, Canadians who want the swine flu vaccine could get it before the winter holidays.
"What we're aiming for ... is that before Christmas and before we're in the season of sharing -- not just good things but viruses as well -- that everybody who wishes to be immunized will have had that opportunity," said Butler-Jones.
Canada has been criticized for not rolling out the vaccine quickly enough. The United States and other countries are already immunizing people.
However, Butler-Jones said Canada will be able to quickly vaccinate anyone who wants it, while the same cannot be said elsewhere. The U.S. has quickly run out of its vaccine, and China doesn't have enough to go around for its citizens.
Once the vaccine is approved, the Canadian government will roll out more than three million doses a week. In some jurisdictions, like Nunavut, patients can expect to get the vaccine in a matter of weeks.
Dr. Donald Low, microbiologist-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel that he expects vaccine approvals to be completed next week.
He said that Canadians should get immunized for both swine flu and seasonal flu.
"Right now the evidence that we're seeing in Ontario is that the only flu strain is H1N1 and that is the vaccine that is going to be available first," he said. "As we monitor this we are going to roll out the flu vaccine if it's needed this year."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday he expects final approval for the vaccine to come "soon." He said he will also get vaccinated once it is available.
The government will finish manufacturing seasonal flu vaccines first before it starts to produce the swine flu vaccine. On Monday, Butler-Jones said this is according to World Health Organization guidelines.
