Swine flu vaccinations underway

The nation-wide swine flu vaccination program has begun.

Quebec began vaccinations two days ahead of schedule on Saturday, after 13 children at a high school in the small Gaspe town of Trois Pistoles were infected with the virus.

In Montreal, some clinics and hospitals like the MUHC and the Jewish General Hospital said they won't be ready until next week, prompting Health Minister Yves Bolduc to say he'd look into it.

"We're going to to check that and if there is adjustment to make we're going to do it," said Bolduc.

The government wants to vaccinate more than one million people as quickly as possible, and hopes as many as 75 per cent of Montrealers will get the shot between the end of October and the beginning of December.

That goal, despite the latest CTV/Globe poll that showed only 49 per cent of Canadians planned to get the shot.

The vaccinations will be staggered to give priority to health care workers, pregnant women, families with children under the age of six months, or adults with a chronic illness.

A diabetic, Claude Leblanc was among the first to receive a shot Monday.

"Since I'm diabetic it was important for me to get the shot. and I live just across the street so I came on foot," said Leblanc at a vaccination site in St. Hubert.

Social worker Elizabeth Chittin also rolled up her sleeve monday.

"It's a protection for myself but also for the people I'm going to be coming into contact with," she said.

Vaccinations for members of the general population who are in good health won't begin until Dec. 7.

The following locations have been named as H1N1 vaccination sites:

Open 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Nov. 6 to 15

• Lachine General Hospital - 3320 Notre Dame St.
• Carrefour Angrignon - 7077 Newman Blvd.
• Patro Le Pr�vost Community Centre - 7355 Christophe-Colomb Ave.
• St-Laurent Leisure Centre - 1375 Grenet St.
• Southwest Physergo medical clinic - 5260 Verdun Rd.
• CLSC Plateau-Mont-Royal - 4625 De Lorimier Ave.
• Coll�ge Reine-Marie - 9300 Saint-Michel Blvd.
• Allancroft School - 265 Allancroft Rd.
• Fr�d�rick-Banting School - 11135 Alfred Ave.
• Rivi�re-des-Prairies Hospital - 7070 Perras Blvd.
• Cavendish Mall - 5800 Cavendish Blvd.
• Th��tre du Quartier - 3990 Notre-Dame St. W

Open Nov. 6, 7, 8 only:

• CLSC Hochelaga-Maisonneuve - 4201 Ontario St.

Open Nov. 9:

• Olympic Stadium - 4545 Pierre-de-Courbertin St.

Open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., beginning Nov. 16

• Lachine General Hospital - 3320 Notre Dame St.
• Carrefour Angrignon - 7077 Newman Blvd.
• Patro Le Pr�vost Community Centre - 7355 Christophe-Colomb Ave.
• St-Laurent Leisure Centre - 1375 Grenet St.
• Southwest Physergo medical clinic - 5260 Verdun Rd.
• CLSC Plateau-Mont-Royal - 4625 De Lorimier Ave.
• Edouard-Rivet Recreation Centre - 11111 Notre-Dame St. E
• Coll�ge Reine-Marie - 9300 Saint-Michel Blvd.
• Allancroft School - 265 Allancroft Rd.
• Fr�d�rick-Banting School - 11135 Alfred Ave.
• Spring Garden Elementary School - 175 Sonata Ave.
• Rivi�re-des-Prairies Hospital - 7070 Perras Blvd.
• Cavendish Mall - 5800 Cavendish Blvd.
• Palais des congr�s - 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
• Olympic Stadium - 4545 Pierre-de-Coubertin St.
• Th��tre du Quartier - 3990 Notre-Dame St. W

Open Saturdays and Sundays only, beginning Nov. 21

• Coll�ge Mont-Saint-Louis - 1700 Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E

Laval plans

In Laval, people can get vaccinated at the following location:

• 2228 des Laurentides Blvd. (Old Canadian Tire)

Opening hours are as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY)

Dates are as follows:

Nov. 5-10 & Nov. 12-14 :

• People under 65 suffering from a chronic illness
• People in contact with children under 6 months
• Pregnant women

Nov. 15-17 & Nov. 19-21

• Children from 6 months to 9 years, and their immediate families
• People in contact with those who are immune deficient

Nov. 22-24 & Nov. 26-28

• Youths aged 10-18 and their guardians
• People aged 65 or older

Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1 & Dec. 3-5

• Open to all