Manitoba to expand second-dose booking to all eligible Manitobans today

WINNIPEG -

All eligible Manitobans can now book their appointment for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligibility for second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine opened to all eligible Manitobans at 11:45 a.m. on Friday.

Those booking a second-dose appointment are reminded they must wait at least 28 days before getting a second shot.

Johanu Botha, operations logistics and planning lead for Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force, made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday.

Due to a Pfizer supply slowdown, the province said appointments for children 12 to 17 are not generally available.

Botha said as an interim solution, the province is allowing parents and caregivers who have an upcoming Pfizer appointment to transfer that appointment to their child, and instead opt for a Moderna vaccine.

The province said it is expecting 87,750 doses of Pfizer and 178,080 doses of Moderna next week.

Botha noted that every supersite, except for the RBC supersite, will now offer walk-ins. However, the number of doses available at each location for walk-in appointments will vary.

To date, Manitoba has received more than 1.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. As of Friday, the province said 1,261,682 doses have been administered.

Provincial data shows that 72.2 per cent of eligible Manitobans have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 32.9 per cent have received their second dose.  

Manitobans can book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment online or by contacting 1-844-626-8222.

 - With files from CTV’s Danton Unger.