Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in my Member’s statement I was speaking about the H1N1 virus that is happening right now across the globe. Listening today on CBC Radio, I was listening to one of my elders from Ulukhaktok, a well-respected elder, Robert Kuptana. I would like to ask the Minister today if she could clarify if there is a vaccine in the community of Ulukhaktok and what time they are going to start vaccinating the elders and the kids in the schools. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could advise the Members that as soon as we got the shipments of vaccines, they were transported to Inuvik so that we are prepared to deal with all of the areas from Inuvik. From Inuvik, vaccines are being transported by hand by a nurse, because the vaccines are very temperature sensitive so they can’t be shipped on the plane. The temperatures have to be monitored. They are being distributed into health centres in many different ways, but they are handled by nurses. The action teams are going into communities. As well, visiting regularly scheduled nurses are going into health centres with the vaccines. Lastly, I could advise the Member that we have begun vaccinating in Ulukhaktok today. I cannot tell him what time or anything like that, but we are vaccinating in Ulukhaktok today. Vaccines are there today. Thank you.
That is good to hear. My elders in Ulukhaktok won’t have to worry so much about their grandchildren.
Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement yesterday, I spoke about the timelines for Tuk and Paulatuk and Sachs. I hope the Minister’s department is seeking to get the vaccine into the communities a lot sooner than within two weeks. That is what the dates in the community are saying. I would like to ask the Minister if she could make sure that the dates are moved up a lot quicker, hopefully by Monday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the latest information we have is that Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour will start vaccinating next week, starting Monday. Mr. Speaker, also I have to say that our health staff and the Territorial Emergency Response Committee have done a spectacular job. As of yesterday, we have vaccinated 7,445 people. This in comparison to 10,000 that Ontario was able to vaccinate in three days; so given the size, geography and challenges we have, I have to say kudos to the people who are involved in this. They are really stepping up to the plate. We are moving fast. We are moving quickly. Our plan was to have everybody who wants to be, vaccinated by November 21st. We are on schedule and I think there is every possibility that we will be done even sooner than that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Minister and her department for working so fast in the southern part of the Territory. I see now it is moving ahead to the communities. I just would like to see and make sure that the H1N1 for the communities, people are really scared and that their staff get out there and let them know that they are working on it to get everybody inoculated and to go on from there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. I didn’t hear a question there. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
