Manitoba has changed its eligibility requirements for those getting a fourth dose — a second booster — of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Friday that any Manitobans over 50, Indigenous people over 30 and all immunocompromised adults are now eligible for the second booster.
The province has also shortened the interval between doses, from six months to four months.
Access to the oral Paxlovid antiviral treatment — which must be taken within five days of COVID-19 symptoms — is also being expanded to include more than 175 Manitoba pharmacies.
In recent weeks, the number of Manitobans hospitalized with the virus has decreased, but COVID-19 deaths in the province are on the rise, with 16 new deaths reported between May 8 and 14, up from 11 announced the previous week.
Global News will stream the press conference on this page.