Manitoba’s flu, COVID vaccine rollout begins Oct. 15

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This article was published 03/10/2024 (396 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Every Vaccine Counts” when Manitobans begin rolling up their sleeves during the annual flu shot campaign.

That’s the province’s slogan for the program that officially begins Oct. 15 and runs until December.

The regular flu shot, a higher-dose shot for seniors age 65 and the latest COVID-19 vaccine will be available.

Seniors at personal-care homes are usually among the first to be vaccinated.

“We are ready to administer as soon as received, of course following all required protocols as given to us by Manitoba Health,” said Sherri Heppner of The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg.

She said facility administration would benefit from a more detailed plan for the program because a vaccine to protect against RSV, a respiratory infection, is being offered free this year to personal-care home residents over the age of 60.

“Manitoba Health advised that there should be at least two weeks between receiving the RSV vaccine and the influenza (shot),” she said.

“It is frustrating, particularly from a logistics perspective, of trying to appropriately plan for the rollout. We have excellent staff, who can manage the vaccination process, but they also have other daily duties to perform.

“The vaccines will definitely take top priority, once received, which makes it a real juggling act of ensuring all other essential tasks are also performed. No matter what, the well-being of our residents comes first.”

The rollout is taking different forms in neighbouring provinces.

Ontario’s most vulnerable and high-priority residents will begin getting flu shots early shortly. Other residents, six months of age and older, will wait for the general program to begin Oct. 28.

Saskatchewan residents can make appointments starting Tuesday for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations that begin Oct. 15.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca