It's the third week of the H1N1 vaccination campaign, and new groups are moving to the front of the line, ahead of schedule.

People under 65 years of age with chronic conditions are now eligible to receive their H1N1 shots. The change took effect on Sunday in Montreal and Laval, and on Monday in the Monteregie region.

Chronic illnesses include cardiac illness, chronic lung illnesses (including asthma and cystic fibrosis), diabetes and other metabolic illnesses, and kidney, liver and blood diseases.

Children with chronic illnesses were scheduled to begin receiving treating as of Nov. 16; those 18 to 65 were scheduled to begin on Nov. 23.

Flu death in Laval

A 26-year-old Laval man died Sunday at Cite de la Sante hospital from complications related to the H1N1 virus.

The man had a serious underlying health condition.

He is the 10th Quebecer to die from the H1N1 virus, and the first in the Laval region.

Vaccinations at the Big O

Hundreds of people lined up for flu vaccinations at the Olympic Stadium Monday morning.

The Big O is the latest vaccination centre to open in Montreal, and it's the biggest in Quebec.

People with chronic conditions were among the first to be vaccinated.

"I had cancer before so I need to be here today," one man told CTV News.

A woman with asthma said she was playing it safe.

"I was worried because there's a lady who died who had asthma too, so that's why I came as soon as I could."

Among the people who showed up to be vaccinated was 62-year-old Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, who has asthma.

About one million Quebecers have received the swine flu vaccine so far this fall.

Low turnout

The schedule has been bumped up after a low turnout at vaccination sites over the weekend.

For example, on Saturday the vaccination centre at Place Alexis Nihon was prepared to vaccinated between 3000 and 4000 people - but fewer than 800 people showed up.

Health-care workers at the centre began offering the H1N1 shot to anyone who showed up, even if they weren't on a priority list.

"When I came to the head of the line to inquire they said 'You can do it right now,' and just handed me a ticket and here I am - looks like the line is only going to be 40 minutes," Dennis Turner told CTV News.

Montreal public health officials said the dwindling numbers are worrisome, but they are confident that the situation will improve.

"(We) don't expect too many vaccines this week and next week, but we expect more on the following week," said Dr. Richard Lessard, the director of Montreal's public health agency.

Seniors

H1N1 vaccinations will also be given in seniors' residences across Quebec, Health Minister Yves Bolduc announced on Sunday.

All private and public residences for the elderly will receive visits from nurses and doctors, so that people with reduced mobility won't be forced to travel to vaccination sites and wait in lines.

There are about 85,000 people living in private residences, and 40,000 in public homes across the province.

Pregnant women

At the same time, the non-adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine has been rolled out across the province, and is available at all vaccination centres across Montreal. The vaccine without adjuvant has been recommended for pregnant women, because the adjuvanted vaccine has not yet been tested for its effect on expectant mothers.

Vaccination sites

At this time, the vaccine is available to children 6 months to 5-years-old, pregnant women (who may receive the vaccine with or without the adjuvant), and the parents and siblings of children under 6 months.

Vaccinations are available at the following sites:

Open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Nov. 6 to 15

  • Lachine General Hospital - 3320 Notre Dame St.
  • Alexis-Nihon Plaza, corner Atwater & Ste-Catherine
  • 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