Manitoba is expanding eligibility for second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Manitobans who got their first dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine on or before March 29 can start booking their second shot as of 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, officials say.
Johanu Botha, co-lead of Manitoba’s vaccine implementation taskforce, said health officials will reach out to those they have contact information for, who qualify, but appointments can also be made by by calling 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) or visiting the province’s website.
Botha said those making appointments need to know which vaccine they first received, and the date the dose was given. Personal vaccine information can be found on Shared Health’s website or by calling the local public health office.
Health officials have previously said they expect to announce new second-dose eligibility on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
“We’ll continue to regularly expand second-dose eligibility based on supply and based on the clinical guidelines set out by (vaccine taskforce lead) Dr. (Joss) Reimer, and the medical team,” Botha said.
As of Monday, all Indigenous people in Manitoba have been eligible to book their second doses, as have Manitobans with certain health conditions.
Reimer said for the most part, those who have received their second dose of vaccine will not need to self-isolate if they are a close-contact of a COVID-19 case, provided it’s been at least two weeks since they’ve received their second jab and they aren’t showing symptoms.
“Getting two doses provides the fullest protection possible against COVID-19,” she said, adding the final decision on self-isolation requirements for fully-vaccinated Manitobans will be made by public health officials.
“This is another great reason to book your second dose as soon as you are eligible.”
At a technical briefing held with reporters Wednesday morning, officials said a decision on whether or not Manitobans who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose will be given the same vaccine for their second jab has yet to be made.
Reimer said while guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) advises using the same vaccine for first and second doses, provincial officials are waiting for the results of study out of the United Kingdom looking at the effectiveness of mixing vaccines, expected this week.
The first group of Manitobans who received the AstraZeneca for their first dose will start to qualify for their second shot next week, officials have said.
“We are going to monitor this very closely and we’re working directly with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to make sure we are providing Mantiobans with the best option for protecting them,” Reimer said.
Reimer said while health officials advise those who have gotten a first dose of AstraZeneca to wait 12 weeks before getting their second shot, exceptions can be made for those who feel they’re at greater-risk to their second dose sooner.
“A physician or pharmacist can conduct a clinical assessment and prioritize you sooner,” she said.
To date, health officials say more than 760,000 vaccine doses have been so far administered in Manitoba.
They say that means more than 60 per cent of adults in Manitoba have now received at least one dose of vaccine.
A new vaccination super site is set to open in Gimli Saturday, and another clinic is set to open in The Pas June 8.
Currently all Manitobans 12 and over are eligible to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Health officials said there are currently thousands of appointments available at the Leila super site in Winnipeg from May 26 to 28. Eligible Manitobans can also book appointments at super sites in Gimli, Dauphin, Steinbach, Winnipeg (RBC Convention Centre), Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk and Morden.
Meanwhile pop-up clinics are scheduled throughout Manitoba in June. A complete listing of locations is available on the province’s website.
With steady vaccine delivery, health officials say 70 per cent of Manitoba’s population should be vaccinated with one dose by June 7 and second dose efforts could be completed as early as July 29.
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.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, visit our coronavirus page.