A new coupon system designed to reduce the long lines and confusion at H1N1 vaccination centres in the province came into effect in the Quebec City region, in the Monteregie, and in the Laurentians on Wednesday.
The new system means that people who show up at vaccination centres have to present ID to prove that they are from the region and are in the target group for priority vaccinations.
They are then issued a coupon that tells them what time they can expect to be vaccinated -- at which point they may choose to go home and return to the vaccination centre later.
The number of coupons distributed corresponds to the number of doses of vaccine available.
At a vaccination centre on the South Shore, a number of people told CTV News they felt the coupon system was working relatively well.
"It's going pretty good. Just yesterday, I thought I was in a refugee camp. It was a crazy," said one man.
"It's much better (...) today they're more organized," said another.
But the morning got off to a shaky start, since some people -- following instructions from the health minstry -- lined up as early as 6 a.m., when the centre was still closed.
"They only opened at 8, so I was a little bit disappointed," said one father.
Health officials at the centre apologized for any confusion, but also said there's no need to arrive that early.
"It's too early. We're asking families not to bring their children to wait in line very early in the morning. It's cold outside," said nursing care director Pauline Plourde.
The coupon system will take effect in Montreal on Thursday.
