The swine flu vaccine continues to create lineups off-island, where the shot is being made available to the general public.

At a makeshift vaccination site in St. Hubert Monday, thousands of people began lining up as early as 4 a.m. with their children, all hoping to protect them from the disease which has made thousands sick and Monday claimed another life, this time that of a 26-year-old woman with a chronic health condition in Western Quebec.

"My husband just showed up now. I've been in line since 8:30. He just brought our two-year-old - and coffee for people in line," said one woman.

At Samuel de Champlain school in Longueuil, roughly 600 people per hour are receiving their shots, though parents are required to play by the rules.

"I have six children... My oldest is 13, and the baby is two, but we're respecting the guidelines. We came with two that are allowed to get the vaccine," said one mother.

Health Minister Yves Bolduc hopes people will follow the rules, which vary depending on the quantity of doses in stock.

"There are some places that will vaccinate the child with one parent, but they won't do both parents because if you do both, you're going to (use up the) vaccine for someone who needs it," explained Bolduc.

In Montreal, the vaccine is still only available to medical staff and people at high risk, though vaccination begins for certain high-risk groups as of Thursday, including:

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

The vaccine will be made available in Montreal to the general public as of Dec. 7.

Vaccines run smoothly in Quebec City

Meanwhile, health officials in Quebec City/>/> are delighted with the response to the H1N1 vaccinations, where 88 per cent of health care workers received the shot.    

"The message has come through. We have a good vaccine, and we have the people to it put in the shoulders of the people," said Reginal Health Director Francois Desbiens.

The provincial capital reported no problems of people showing up ahead of the allotted schedule, as was the case in Montreal/>/>.

Most people who came early were prepared to wait, but had some concerns about the crowd as a breeding ground for H1N1

"It seems like a good way to spread the virus," said one person while waiting for the vaccine.