New Manitoba program to have doctors, pharmacists encourage COVID-19 vaccinations
The Manitoba government is investing $14 million in community-focused and one-on-one outreach programs to improve access to the COVID-19 vaccine and to boost vaccine uptake.
“Every vaccination matters. Everyone is important, and there are many more that have to be done,” said Premier Kelvin Goertzen.
“Today’s announcement is recognizing that we are now in a different stage of the vaccination campaign.”
The Manitoba government announced the funding on Tuesday, saying the money will support initiatives that will allow doctors’ offices to create a roster and provide outreach to patients who are not fully vaccinated.
This outreach will include having patients come in to ask any questions or relay concerns they have about the vaccine, in order to support fully informed decisions.
The province said that each office can develop its own strategies to reach out to people based on its knowledge of the patients and what would be most effective.
Funding can be used to cover administrative costs and physician fees.
“Doctors, physicians, pharmacists, these are the people that have earned the trust of Manitobans in many different ways and for many different reasons,” the premier said.
“Manitobans have trusted them to deliver their babies. They have trusted them when they’ve gone through a difficult diagnosis, like cancer. They’ve trusted with their loved ones. They’ve helped them with their prescriptions in many, many different ways.”
The province is also supporting the creation of a training and support program for doctors and pharmacists that deals with best practices when it comes to reaching out to those who have yet to be vaccinated. Doctors Manitoba, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians and the University of Manitoba are developing the training, which will help support health-care providers in areas where help is needed to improve immunization rates.
Manitoba’s investments will also allow doctors and pharmacists to offer more immunization clinics in places with low uptake rates.
Training opportunities for health-care workers and paraprofessionals will be available to teach them about motivational interviewing techniques – an approach that will help them better understand and address questions and concerns from unvaccinated people.
“We’re excited to bring the focus back to communities and neighbourhoods, as these partnerships really do support a regionalized approach to immunization in Manitoba,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon.
The province added that health authorities will be holding smaller vaccine clinics every week in the near future to reach as many eligible Manitobans as possible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.