Some regions of Quebec will begin vaccinating members of the general public against swine flu starting Wednesday, Health Minister Yves Bolduc said Tuesday.

Until now, the province has focused on vaccinating priority groups most at-risk of catching the H1N1 virus, including young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses.

Members of the general population will be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine Wednesday in some of the province's regions, Health Minister Yves Bolduc said Tuesday. (Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)But starting Wednesday, Bolduc said the following regions would start vaccinating members of the general public:

• Montreal.
• Laval.
• Montérégie.
• Eastern Townships.
• Provincial Capital Region.
• Chaudière-Appalaches.
• Côte-Nord.

Starting on Monday, Bolduc said the rest of the province’s regions would also begin offering the vaccine to all residents who want it.

Initially, the vaccine was not scheduled to be available to members of the general population until early December.

Bolduc said the acceleration was made possible due in part to the fact the province received 1.1 million doses of the vaccine this week.

He denied the decision had anything to do with a lower than expected turnout at mass vaccination centers.

"We were so well organized that we will be able to vaccinate more quickly than we thought before," Bolduc said.

So far, Bolduc said the province has already vaccinated more than two million people, or 25 per cent of the population.

The minister said he did not expect there to be problems as the government opens access to the vaccine for everyone.Quebec's director of public health protection, Dr. Horacio Arruda says the swine flu could return in the spring. (CBC)

He said mass vaccination centres will continue to focus on vaccinating at-risk clientele, including school children in the daytime. Healthy adults will be vaccinated during the evening, Bolduc said.

He said the coupons that provide people with an appointment for their vaccination will also be distributed earlier in advance.

"We will perhaps have a rush [Wednesday] morning," Bolduc said. "We are asking people to be patient and maybe come over the next few days."

Vaccines necessary

Quebec’s director of public health protection Dr. Horacio Arruda encouraged people to seek out the vaccine, even though he said the number of new cases appears to have stabilized.

Arruda said the virus is still relatively new, and its behaviour may be unpredictable.

"It is too soon to say if we have reached the peak," Arruda said. "A third wave could come in the spring — or even a fourth wave."

"Rather than risking spending the holidays at the hospital … I think we should take the vaccine, which is safe," Arruda said.

Youngest death

Officials have also confirmed a 21-month old toddler is the youngest person to die in the province from complications related to swine flu.

The girl, from the Montreal region, had previously existing health problems, Arruda said. Her death was reported on Friday.

So far 54 people in the province have died from complications from the flu since Aug. 30. Only one did not have underlying health-care problems.