Quebec businesses gearing up to vaccinate employees, their families starting next month

In a historic first, some Quebec businesses will soon be administering vaccines.

Thirteen companies located in eight regions will set up vaccination centres, the province's Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

The companies should begin administering dosesnext month.

Last month, Health Minister Christian Dub said the province wanted to sign up 20 to 50 companies who would be able to inoculate 500,000 Quebecers.

Dub said more than 450 businesses signed up to take part in the project and more vaccination centreswill be added to the list in the coming weeks.

The province has a self-imposed deadline to provide at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccineto every Quebecer who wants one by June 24.

The businesses will mainly vaccinate people who work for them and their partners along withtheir family members, but the campaign will also include the employees of nearby companies and their families.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said the general population would also have access to doses.

One vaccination centre will be a partnership betweenAroports de Montral, Bombardier and Air Canada.

"So, along with Bombardier of Canada, which are the two companies that employ the most people in the airport, we decided to join forces," saidAnne-Sophie Hamel, a spokesperson forAroports de Montral.

"We know that everybody has to do their part, and that's something that we could do because we have the infrastructure. And, unfortunately, right now our space is not very used."

You can consult the full list of businesses here.

The ministry says each company will need to vaccinate between 15,000 and 25,000 people from May to August.

WATCH | Montrealers explain why they lined up to get the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine:

Quebecers across the province line up to get AstraZeneca shot

3 years ago

Duration 1:18

On Thursday people aged 55 and up were allowed to get inoculated with the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine without an appointment at large vaccination sites.