Manitobans 95 and older as well as First Nations people 75 and over are now able to book appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The expansion of eligibility into the general public marks the first time in the vaccination campaign that people not associated with health care and other front-line professions or living in a congregate living facility have had access to the vaccine.
Appointments can be booked by calling 1-844-626-8222 and can be made by those eligible, their caregivers or family members. Callers will need to provide the number on Manitoba health card of the person getting the vaccine. Appointment for both the first and second doses of the vaccine will be made at the same time.
The province has asked only appointments for those eligible be made. 2,000 phone lines are available to handle the influx of calls. Callers will be greeted on the line by an automated response system that will initially screen for eligibility. Once a caller passes the initial screening an agent will ask a second set of questions to confirm eligibility. Callers will be asked for a phone number and email address but will not be denied an appointment if the caller does not have them available.
It is expected over the coming weeks that eligibility criteria will be expanded as the province ramps up the number of vaccines they can administer and more vaccine becomes available.
LINK | Manitoba Eligibility Criteria
© News4.ca 2021
