N.B. swine flu costs to hit $17.1M

The Department of Health will spend $17.1 million to vaccinate New Brunswick residents against swine flu this year.

Health Minister Mary Schryer said in a statement on Tuesday that the money will cover the province's share of the vaccine and the administrative costs associated with setting up the vaccination clinics.

The public health office has already announced that all New Brunswick residents will receive the immunization for free. The first vaccines are supposed to show up in November.

"Significant planning is ongoing to ensure New Brunswickers have accurate health protection information and are cared for should they fall ill with the virus. Clearly, vaccination is a very important stage in the pandemic response," Schryer said in a statement.

On Sept. 10, Dr. Eilish Cleary, the province's chief medical officer of health, said the government now expects swine flu to hit the province earlier and harder than first anticipated.

The normal flu season starts in late October. And that's when Cleary said health officials expect to see an increase in the number of pandemic flu virus cases.

An estimated 30 per cent of New Brunswickers will get swine flu, according to theprovince'spublic health office.

Children under the age of five, women in the late stages of pregnancy, First Nations people and others who have medical conditions such as diabetes or lung disease are considered to be high risk for swine flu.