Second-dose COVID-19 vaccine bookings to open for some Manitobans on Friday

Appointments for Manitobans' second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine will be available for booking beginning this Friday. With a few exceptions, the rollout will be in order of who got their vaccines earliest to latest.

By Mike Albanese and CityNews Staff

WINNIPEG (CityNews) – Some Manitobans will be able to start booking their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“Today, we’re announcing that the booking of second doses will launch this Friday for individuals with specific health conditions,” said Johanu Botha, operations, logistics and planning lead for Manitoba’s vaccine implementation task force.

“The conditions include people who are on dialysis, people who have down syndrome, people who have received or are on a list to receive an organ transplant, people who are currently receiving chemotherapy cancer treatment, and those living with HIV,” said Dr. Joss Reime, Medical lead of Manitoba’s vaccine implementation task force.

“After those with health conditions have booked their appointments, or have had an opportunity to, we’ll be moving to a system based mainly on when people got their first dose. For example, if you got your first dose before the end of March, you’ll be eligible to book sooner. Then, a few days later we move to those who had their first dose before April 5, then April 12 and so on,” explained Botha.

Over 53 per cent of those aged 18 or older have received at least one dose, as more than 666,000 doses have been administered across Manitoba.

The task force says they will completely exhaust the vaccine supply they have within five days, but expect shipments to arrive, and are confident that no appointment will be missed.

“This expansion should have no effect on our plans to get a first dose of a vaccine to 70 per cent of the population age 12 and up by June 9,” added Dr. Reimer.

Meanwhile, the Steinbach supercentre opened for vaccinations on Tuesday, with Gimli’s scheduled for the 29, and a new site in the Pas opening no later than June 9.

AstraZeneca recipients will have to wait a little longer for second dose appointments, and Dr. Reimer says evidence currently suggests a three month wait before getting a booster garners the best immune response.

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