First Nations & Inuit Priority for H1N1 Vaccine

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the A (H1N1) flu is expected to hit even harder in October. Some 74 people have already died from this flu virus. We need to act now.

The minister plans to reveal her priority list for the flu vaccine a little later this week, but we want to know now whether first nations and Inuit people are on that list, since they are at a much greater risk.

My question is very simple. Can the minister tell us whether aboriginal people are on the government's list of priorities?

Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear that every Canadian who wants to receive the vaccine will receive it. The vaccine rollout is currently being developed. A special advisory committee made up of chief medical officers is working on that and I expect that vaccine rollout document to be released some time this week.

We are working with the provinces and territories to ensure that all Canadians who want to receive the

vaccine will be able to do so.

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, does the minister realize that “A (H1N1)” is not a postal code?

We have a serious problem on our hands. At the symposium in Winnipeg two weeks ago, leading

epidemiologists in this country said that first nations and Inuit people are 25 times more likely to contract

H1N1.

I ask you, Mr. Speaker, is the government going to stop the bureaucratese and this dilly-dallying with

respect to first nations and Inuit people and act now?

Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the only party that thinks H1N1 is a postal code is that party. Our goal is to ensure the balance between the needs and the speed of the timing of the vaccine. We are gathering as much information as we can on the vaccine to ensure that it is safe and effective for all Canadians. Thanks to the actions of Health Canada, we will be able to approve that vaccine quickly and all Canadians who want to receive the vaccine will be able to do so.