Residents from a handful of Northern Manitoba communities and one First Nation will be travelling to Thompson for COVID-19 vaccinations beginning this week, the provincial government said March 1.
The first communities participating in the pilot phase of remote and First Nations community vaccination include Wabowden, Snow Lake, Herb Lake Landing, Grand Rapids and Misipawisitik First Nation. The communities were selected based on their readiness and ability to travel for vaccinations.
The province says more information about its northern immunization strategy will be released in the coming days.
Appointments at the Thompson vaccination super site can currently be booked by anyone who meets eligibility requirements, which includes many health care and lab workers, employees of homeless and family violence shelters and anyone born before the end of 1930 (90 or older) as well as First Nations people who are 70 or older (born before the end of 1950). For full vaccination eligibility, go to www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vacine/eligibility-criteria.html. Appointments can be booked by calling 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). Callers will be screened to ensure they are eligible before being able to book an appointment.
Manitoba has administered 76,670 COVID-19 vaccinations so far – 47.780 first doses and 28,890 second doses. It has received a total of 108.460 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to date, including 79,560 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 28,900 doses of the Modern vaccine. The province expects to receive 16,380 more doses of Pfizer vaccine this week.
An online calculator at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine shows residents where they are in the priority line based on their age, vaccine uptake and other factors.
