COVID-19 vaccine second doses opening to all eligible Manitobans on Friday
All Manitobans eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book a second dose starting on Friday.
Johanu Botha, operations, logistics and planning lead of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force, said starting at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, second-dose eligibility will be opened up to everyone.
He said all eligible Manitobans booking appointments on Friday must book a date that is 28 days after their first dose.
Botha said now every supersite except the RBC Supersite is offering walk-ins. The number of doses available at each location for walk-in appointments will vary, he said.
"We will continue to do our best to prioritize people who need their first dose when they come for walk-ins, but second-dose people can still choose to try the walk-in option," he said.
As of Thursday, the province reported 71.9 per cent of eligible Manitobans had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 30.8 per cent had received two doses.
"Your first dose is absolutely critical to protecting you, protecting your family, and protecting the people that you come in contact with," said Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead of the task force.
"There are many people who face barriers in getting the vaccine, and so all of the outreach and community work is essential in order to meet the needs of these individuals."
Reimer urged those who do not face barriers but are waiting to get their first dose of the vaccine to book an appointment now.
PARENTS, CAREGIVERS NOW ABLE TO TRANSFER PFIZER APPOINTMENT TO CHILDREN
The province is also preparing for a Pfizer supply slowdown from the province, leaving only a limited number of appointments for the Pfizer vaccine available.
READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccine appointment bookings for Manitoba youth paused due to Pfizer slowdown
"Our Pfizer supply in the short term is extremely limited," Botha said. "Right now, that is the only type of vaccine approved for young people aged 12 to 17."
Botha said as an interim solution, parents and caregivers who have an upcoming Pfizer appointment can now transfer that appointment to their child.
Those who transfer a Pfizer appointment can instead book a Moderna vaccine appointment for themselves.
Reimer said for parents and children who are not able to do this, it is okay to have a slightly longer timeframe between doses.
"If your second dose happens later than 28 days, I don't want you to worry about how well it will work," she said, adding studies have shown longer delays between doses can lead to a stronger immune response.
"While we do want people to be immunized as quickly as possible, we don't want you to worry about how well that second dose will work if you do have to wait a bit longer to get it."
Anyone who would like to change their appointment can call 1-844-626-8222.
PROVINCE TO TEST EXTENDED HOURS AT RBC, LEILA SUPERSITES
Botha said the province is expected to receive hundreds of thousands of doses of the Moderna vaccine in the near future.
Because of this, Botha said the province will be testing extended hours at the RBC and Leila supersite locations on June 28. He said appointments are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
"As we've said, nothing is off the table, so certainly extending hours further with more supply coming in is under consideration, especially if it works well and supply does arrive," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Leonardo DiCaprio criticizes Ottawa over B.C. salmon farms
Salmon farms have long been a point of contention between environmentalists and fish farmers in British Columbia, but a much bigger net is now being cast on the topic.
Flight from Israel to New Jersey diverted to New York state due to high winds, turbulence
High winds and turbulence have forced a United Airlines flight from Israel to be diverted from its destination of Newark Airport in New Jersey to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, N.Y..
Vancouver rapper falls on ice during Canucks game performance
The Vancouver Canucks weren’t the only ones who stumbled during Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Stars.
Snow-covered bodies of 2 men from Senegal found in New York woods near Canadian border
Two men from Senegal froze to death were found in the snow of a wooded area close to the Canadian border, New York state police said.
This historical tavern in Toronto is closing after nearly 200 years
An historic downtown Toronto bar is closing its doors next week after nearly 200 years in business.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
Manhattan DA suggests Donald Trump violated gag order with post about daughter of hush-money trial judge
Manhattan prosecutors suggested Friday that Donald Trump violated a gag order in his hush-money criminal case this week by assailing the judge's daughter and making a false claim about her on social media.
Niagara Region 'proactively' declares state of emergency ahead of total solar eclipse
Niagara Region says it has declared a state of emergency 'out of an abundance of caution' as it prepares for an influx of visitors for next month’s total solar eclipse.