Third wave of swine flu is unlikely

Quebec's public health institute says the H1N1 vaccination campaign last fall cost nearly $146 million, but that the price tag was lower than expected.

Dr. Alain Poirier, director of the program, said in a statement Thursday that 4.4 million people were inoculated against the flu strain.

"We had estimated that this large public health operation could have cost up to $200 million," he said. "We were therefore able to contain costs while achieving 57 per cent vaccination coverage."

Extra doses

There had been concerns that the swine flu could mutate and become more dangerous, but the last wave was fairly mild.

What's more, the government claims the mass vaccination was so successful that a third wave of swine flu is unlikely.