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If all eligible British Columbians get the H1N1 vaccine, the threat of a third wave of swine flu illness could be ebbed, according to the provincial health officer.
“As a population in B.C., we can determine whether or not we’re going to have one because clearly a third wave is preventable,” Dr. Perry Kendall said.
“The more people who get immunized against the H1N1 flu virus, the lower the number of people who may get sick and we won’t have our future wave.”
Kendall said B.C. likely weathered the second wave of H1N1 infection as doctor visits peaked across the Lower Mainland last week.
The Northern Health Authority is the only region where doctors’ visits have yet to decline.
About 250,000 H1N1 vaccine doses will be available this week followed by another 258,000 doses next week.
Kendall projects doctors will be able to vaccinate everyone who is eligible over the next three weeks.