Montreal police reported altercations between Beaconsfield residents as huge throngs of people lined up for swine-flu shots at a local elementary school.

A new coupon system was supposed to shorten the lineups, but the line at Allancroft school started forming at 4:15 in the morning, and had descended into utter confusion by daybreak.

"It was chaos," said Constable Jacques Monast. "We had to block streets, make one-ways to be able to free everybody."

Police were needed to negotiate arguments, and they also handed out tickets to people who parked on lawns, or blocked driveways and crosswalks.

Coupons were handed out as quickly as they could be grabbed, and by mid-morning, the day's available appointments were booked.

Some of the confusion arose when people who received coupons on Thursday told to come back Friday.

"We stood there and said no, this is not right," said Debbie Smith. "We waited. We're cold. We're tired and if this is such a big epidemic where people could get this, why not give it to us?"

"I'm not coming back tomorrow to stand here two or three hours to be turned away a second time."

Apologies

Officials apologized for the inconvenience, saying they were not expecting the huge crowds.

They also admitted cutting down the number of available appointments after underestimating the time it took to give the shots to young children.

Sylvie Martineau had to return twice to get four of her six children treated.

"I'm not very happy that I will have to come back with my two other kids," said Martineau.

The government has called in extra nurses to deal with the lineups.

"We're modifying as we go along," said Ruth Bresnen, director of the regional health board. "Doing mass vaccinations of approximately 200,000 (people) on the West Island is a major, major effort."

New centre

Authorities hope that the confusion will be eliminated on the weekend.

Officials estimate that they're vaccinating 1,500 people per day at Allancroft.

They plan to open up another vaccination centre on Spring Garden Road in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, possibly as early as next week.