WINNIPEG

Manitoba pharmacies, medical clinics can now apply to administer COVID-19 vaccines

Charles Lefebvre CTVNewsWinnipeg.ca Supervising News Producer - Digital

Published Monday, February 8, 2021 12:15PM CST Last Updated Monday, February 8, 2021 12:16PM CST

Dr. Joss Reimer, left, medical officer of health, Manitoba Health and Seniors Care, and medical lead, Vaccine Implementation Task Force injects Mabel Aldwinckle with her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Meadowood Manor in Winnipeg, Friday, January 29, 2021. Dr Reimer was finishing up the first round of inoculations at Manitoba’s personal care homes today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

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WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government is now accepting applications for pharmacies and medical clinics to give out the COVID-19 vaccine in the future.

The announcement, released on Monday, said this would allow those accepted to administer vaccines. It is being done, “In anticipation of suitable vaccines being authorized by the federal government in the future,” according to a provincial news release.

“This approach builds on their expertise in delivering other publicly funded vaccines including the annual flu campaign."

The news comes as the province is approaching 50,000 total vaccine doses being administered since December.

As of Monday, Manitoba has given a total of 48,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Of those doses, 33,654 are first doses, while 14,533 are second doses.

Of those first doses, 8,252 were given to personal care home residents in the province. Focused immunization teams will be returning to the care homes to give the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The immunization is scheduled to be completed by the end of February.

The teams also visited congregate living sites in Gimli, Teulon, Gladstone and Vita last week, giving out 49 first doses of the vaccine. Additional sites in Winnipeg and Brandon will be scheduled during the week of Feb. 19 based on vaccine supply, the province said.

First-dose appointments for eligible Manitobans are being booked at the Winnipeg and Brandon super sites. Based on vaccine supplies, the appointments will begin Feb. 20 in Winnipeg and Feb. 22 in Brandon. Eligible First Nation health-care workers can make an appointment at a pop-up site operating in Winnipeg this week.

Manitoba said second-dose appointments that are initially scheduled from Feb. 15 to 17 are being rescheduled due to the vaccine supply disruption. The release from the province said they will reach out to affected people by email or text to reschedule these appointments within a few days of the originally scheduled date.

People should still plan to attend their scheduled appointments unless they receive a call from the province.