In an effort to increase capacity for the number of vaccines that can be administered in a day Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson announced the number of professions able to administer the vaccine has been expanded.

An order under the Regulated Health Professions Act was signed on Wednesday February 10, 2021 that adds athletic therapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, massage therapists and optometrists to the list of professions able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Today we are expanding the number of people permitted to administer vaccines, so that when those vaccines are delivered to our province, I have been assured that we will be ready to mobilize our plan to vaccinate up to 20,000 Manitobans a day,” said Stefanson.

With the additional groups added a total of 17 professions can now provide immunization in the province.

There are currently 1,457 COVID-19 immunizers ready to support the vaccine rollout across the province according to the Vaccine Implementation Task Force.

Since the province began the COVID-19 vaccination campaign 50,554 doses have been administered – 33,930 first doses and 16,624 second dosed.

Manitoba’s current capacity is 7,499 doses per day with a goal of expanding that to 20,000 doses per day by April.

As was previously announced Manitoba is experiencing supply issues when it comes to both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines resulting in the Thompson Vaxport opening being delayed until March.

LINK | Regulated Health Professions Act order

© News4.ca 2021