Manitoba has again lowered the age eligibility for those able to receive their COVID-19 vaccine and Premier Brian Pallister says all Manitobans 18 and over will be able to begin making appointments for the shot Wednesday.
As of Tuesday everyone 24 years of age and older can make an appointment at supersites and pop-up clinics, according to a notice posted to the province’s website.
Later in the day Pallister said the government is preparing to open COVID-19 vaccine appointments to everyone 18 years old and older starting Wednesday.
Pallister briefly mentioned the change in the legislature and the Health Department has confirmed the move to Global News. More details are expected Wednesday morning.
Vaccination appointments can be made by calling 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) or visiting the province’s website.
All Indigenous Manitobans 18 and over also qualify to get their shots, as do all adults living in 14 communities designated as COVID-19 hot spots, or areas with a high risk of transmission.
Adults who don’t live in those areas but work there in certain jobs that deal with the public are also eligible. They include school workers, grocery store employees, convenience store clerks and restaurant staff.
More information on the hot spots, including a map highlighting the eligible neighbourhoods, is available on the province’s website.
All front-line police officers and firefighters, regardless of age, are already eligible. All adults who are pregnant, who receive community living disability services or who work in any health-care setting — including outpatient locations and the province’s vaccine warehouse — can book an appointment as well
The province is also allowing anyone 40 and over to get an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through pharmacies and medical clinics, subject to availability. People 30-39 can get a shot if they have certain underlying health conditions such as chronic liver failure or severe obesity.
The Progressive Conservative government also introduced a bill that will require employers to give workers up to three hours off to get vaccinated.
Finance Minister Scott Fielding says the measure mirrors what other provinces are doing.
— with files from The Canadian Press
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
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