I agree, but that's the reason it has become a collective effort here, as Madam Chatigny has explained.
The effort, if I may, in a respectful way, is your effort as well. You are powerful people in your constituencies, so you can pass on the message and try to change what we are hearing a little bit. I'm talking with a lot of respect here, but the thing is we go to the media, we explain the vaccine, and then we hear that people don't know what it is. Something is wrong somewhere. The message has to get out.
We have high regulatory standards in Canada. The vaccine, as we now know, is safe. It corresponds with what we are hearing. It is highly efficient. If people take it, it has the power to stop the H1N1.
That is the first thing, that the message has to get out loud and clear. I hope all of you will be taking it.
The other issue is
working upstream.
There is the vaccine, but there is also the message of the antiviral. Nationally, out in the provinces, there are enough antivirals in stock to treat every Canadian who needs them. That is the reason we have passed a strong message to Canadians and to health professionals to get early treatment with the antiviral. This is another step to try to avoid being hospitalized or admitted to the ICU.
We also have identified high-risk persons who are to get the vaccine and who should go quickly to see their physician.
So it's a package of everything.
The numbers you are quoting--yes, but the thing is that if people are not taking the means to protect themselves.... And it's not only to protect oneself. If I take the vaccine, I will prevent transmission. I will not transmit or be a vector of the transmission of the virus to any of you, if you don't take it.
These are important messages that have to come across. Certainly we are looking at you and the power, the influence of your position to pass this message very strongly to your constituencies.
That is about the numbers.
Regarding a pregnant woman and the 20 weeks, we don't have the evidence for the H1N1; it's a new virus. This will come. We have worked that out with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada to try to balance the risk of the mother, the fetus, and so on. Right now, 1% of the population in a given year is pregnant in Canada. Right now, 5% of pregnant women are among those who are hospitalized, and 5% die. It's very important.
We really need to bring the highest level of safety to these women, so they feel that within the first trimester, for example, [Inaudible--Editor] is not a risk, but then they can be protected.
There are also studies that the influenza might be a risk in those trimesters. We are working on that with the college.