The number of deaths in Quebec during the second wave of the swine flu has risen to 20.

That brings the total number of Quebecers who have died this year of complications resulting from the H1N1 virus up to 56.

The health ministry is appealing to people to get their shots, saying fewer than 50 per cent of priority groups have done so to date.

Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says the vaccines are running out in some regions of the province, but more supplies are on the way.

No vaccine shortage in Montreal

Public health officials in Montreal say they are not facing a vaccine shortage.

Another 57,500 doses of the swine flu vaccine arrived in Montreal this week as part of the campaign to inoculate one million people this fall.

"There isn't a shortage up to now and we believe, and we have enough vaccine for the groups that we're targeting. But that's why we have to track this very carefully from day to day," said Dr. Terry-Nan Tannenbaum of the Montreal Public Health Department.

Since Aug. 30, the number of reported cases of swine flu in Montreal has reached nearly 750.

Three Montrealers have died from the virus.

As a point of comparison, the Public Health Agency of Canada says seasonal flu and its complications kill between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians every single year.

Second vaccination centre opens in West Island

There were no lineups at all Wednesday, as a second West Island vaccination centre opened at Spring Garden Elementary School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

Montreal public health officials insist the situation has stabilized at once-busy centres across the island.

"It's going very well and very smoothly. They're giving out the coupons and the waits are minimal," said Tannenbaum.

Inoculating children

Public health officials are also working on a plan to have children vaccinated.

There was a meeting involving civil protection authorities and school board officials to plan the massive inoculation.

There's a possibility that children will be transported to mass vaccination centres by bus, but Tannenbaum says the logistics involved are significant.

"There's the consent to be vaccinated, there's the consent to be transported, there's making sure that we have all the information on allergies or other related problems (...) So it's a bit of a complicated thing that we need to organize " she said.

Making room

To free up hospital beds for expected swine flu victims, there are new directives for chronic care institutions.

A temporary ban on new admissions to long-term residences has been implemented.

The nursing homes are to focus on accommodating patients who admitted to hospitals, but do not need acute care.