There's no problem if New Brunswickers cross the border into Nova Scotia to get H1N1 vaccine shots, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health says.
Dr. Robert Strang said Wednesday that many people who live just across the border in New Brunswick work in Nova Scotia health centres.
"We have people who live across the border in New Brunswick who work in our hospitals. I know people personally who work in public health live in Sackville [N.B.], work in Amherst," he said.
"The same holds true, there are people who live in Amherst, work in Sackville. I don't think we should worry too much about crossing borders."
The issue of cross-border flu shots was brought up by Tory MLA Murray Scott who represents the riding of Cumberland South, near the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border. On Tuesday, Scott said he had first-hand reports of New Brunswick families receiving flu shots in Nova Scotia.
A former police officer in Springhill, Scott said he had confirmed that New Brunswickers were getting vaccinated in Nova Scotia after investigating a complaint from a constituent. Since vaccine supplies are allocated by population, he said, Nova Scotia should protect its own.
Strang said the issue is not that simple, and noted that H1N1 vaccine will eventually be offered to all Canadians, regardless of where they live.
