On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Dr Joss Reimer, the medical lead of the Vaccine Implementation Task Force, announced that the province will be delaying the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to immunize more Manitobans sooner.
“This approach will allow us to immunize more Manitobans sooner and this helps protects us all,” said Reimer. “These vaccines are providing a significant level of protection even after one dose.”
Reimer said that second doses could be delayed up to four months but that the province would be following the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
“Based on the information available to us, this is the best plan,” said Reimer
Several other provinces previously announced that they would also delay administering second doses of the vaccine including British Columbia who announced Monday that there would be a three-and-a-half month delay between shots.
Reimer noted that anyone who already has a second dose appointment will have those appointments honoured.
The task force is working out how this change in the implementation of the vaccine will impact the vaccination campaign.
To date more than 80,000 doses of vaccine have been administered across Manitoba.
Eligibility for receiving a vaccine expanded on Wednesday to now include people who are 89 and older and First Nations people aged 69 and older.
LINK | www.manitoba.ca/vaccine
© News4.ca 2021
