N.B. health officer defends flu shot decision

New Brunswick's deputy chief medical health officer is defending a controversial decision regarding the seasonal flu vaccine program, saying it's the safest approach for New Brunswickers.

Dr. Paul Van Buynder announced Thursday the province will push ahead with an early seasonal flu vaccine program first, followed by the swine flu vaccine.

That's the opposite of what health departments in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia are doing.

Those provinces areoffering the swine flu vaccine first because some studies have suggested getting a seasonal vaccine first can actually increase the risk of getting swine flu.

"The New Brunswick position will never be based on what's happening in Quebec or Ontario," Van Buynder said Friday. "It will be based on the continuous review of the data, and looking at the capacity to deliver."

"We know that we can protect the elderly, young children pregnant women those at severe risk of seasonal influenza and we also know that the data will continuously be reviewed."

The seasonal flu vaccine campaign will begin on Oct. 1.

The provincewide swine flu vaccine will be rolled out in November.