Canadian researchers are of opinion that public health interventions and an enhanced immunization program could improve health for Inuit children and reduce healthcare costs.

Dr. Anna Banerji, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said that respiratory infections are the primary cause for admission, medical evacuation and expenditure for Inuit children in the healthcare system and can lead to grave health complications for those affected.

"Infants of Inuit race were nearly four times more likely to be admitted for lower respiratory tract infections than mixed or non-Inuit infants," Banerji said in a statement.

‘Inuit’ is a general term for a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland and Alaska.

Banerji showed that by immunizing rural Inuit infants with the vaccine, the healthcare system could save up to $8,000 per admission dodged.

The analysis concludes that preventative measures in infancy can prove to be both helpful in improving the health of children and also saving a significant amount of money for the healthcare system.