The swine flu vaccination will be available to the general population in a number of regions of Quebec beginning Wednesday.
Health Minister Yves Bolduc made the announcement in Quebec City on Tuesday.
Since the second wave of the swine flu began earlier this fall, the province has focused on inoculating priority groups including health-care workers, young children, pregnant women, and people suffering from chronic illnesses.
Initially, the vaccination was not going to be available to the general population until Dec.7, but Bolduc said the province's vaccine supply is adequate to handle an accelerated schedule.
Starting Wednesday, the shot will be available to everyone at all vaccination centres in the following regions:
- Montreal
- Mont�r�gie
- Eastern Townships
- Quebec City Region
- Chaudi�re-Appalaches
- C�te-Nord
In Montreal, vaccinations were available to everyone as of Tuesday evening at Cavendish Mall in Cote St. Luc, at Allancroft Elementary School in Beaconsfield and at Spring Garden Elementary School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.
In Laval, the vaccination will be available to the general population on Thursday.
The rest of the regions in the province will begin offering the H1N1 vaccination to the general public starting Monday, Bolduc added.
Public health officials say they are concerned because people appear to be losing interest in getting the shot.
More than two million Quebecers - just one quarter of the population - have been vaccinated so far.
In order to reach mass immunity, the government says 80 percent of the population will have to be vaccinated.
