Canada could be facing a $2 billion bill to have every Canadian vaccinated against swine flu. A report in the Globe and Mail suggests that $1.51 billion has already been spent on the vaccine, but the real cost is expected to be higher as many provinces are still reviewing their costs.

It had been predicted by provincial and territorial health ministers that at around $16 a dose the cost of buying and delivering the vaccine could end up costing $806 million. But based on new estimates the true cost has almost doubled from $16 to $30 a shot and is still rising.

The cost of the vaccine program has had to be balanced by officials against the cost to society and the work force if a pandemic virus were left to spread unrestrained. The program has been questioned by some health experts saying that the expense far outweighs the seriousness of the H1N1 virus.

Despite the large bill for the vaccine, a new poll says that most Canadians are happy with what the government have done at handling the H1N1 pandemic. A recent survey has also gone on to say that 22 to 24 per cent of Canadians surveyed, felt that each level of government has done a good job dealing with swine flu, while the remaining 33 to 37 per cent describe their performance as at least fair

To learn more about swine flu and the money its costing to the Canadian government visit ctv.ca.