"Anecdotally, we have heard of some long lineups," spokesperson Jeff Bell said of the province-wide program designed to provide free vaccinations for almost 8 million Ontarians. In some cases, doctors' offices had to be resupplied with vaccine after demand exceeded supply.

The $38-million program, the only one of its kind in North America, was launched in October to help ease pressure at the province's hospitals during the January and February flu season.

The province ordered 7.9 million doses of vaccine and 5.73 million of them had been delivered by Nov. 30, at a cost of $2 each. The rest of the money is being used to pay physicians and administrative costs and to run a high-profile advertising campaign featuring comments from doctors and nurses.

Bell said that because the program is a prototype, several studies of its usefulness, including cost-benefit and public health analyses, will be conducted.

Flu shots were being recommended for all Ontarians over 6 months of age, except for those with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or with allergies to eggs, thimerosal, neomycin or gelatin.