Manitoba slow on fourth-dose vaccine campaign
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2022 (1399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
OTTAWA — Manitoba is the worst in Canada for uptake of COVID-19 fourth doses, among the six reporting provinces.
Just 0.48 per cent of Manitobans have had their second booster shot, compared to an average of six per cent among provinces sending data to Ottawa.
That’s in part due to differing provincial rules on who can get a fourth dose.
Manitoba limits the second booster shot to six months after the receipt of the previous dose, in line with guidelines from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization — and only for people over 70, as well as Indigenous people over 50 and any residents of personal care homes and congregate living situations.
Ontario has opted for a five-month window since the last shot, for people 60 and up. That’s led to five per cent vaccination rate for fourth doses.
Quebec has allowed for a three-month window since the last dose, and is allowing all adults to sign up for a fourth shot, regardless of age. That province leads Canada with a 10 per cent uptake of the fourth dose.
A Manitoba government spokeswoman noted that the majority of the province isn’t yet eligible for a fourth dose.
“Uptake between jurisdictions is not comparable because different jurisdictions have different eligibility criteria,” she wrote.
The province also indicated no imminent change to eligibility.
“If public health’s advice and recommendations vaccine eligibility changes, updates will be provided according.”
Meanwhile, for third shots, 45.5 per cent of Manitobans have had a booster, compared with 83 per cent having two doses and 86.3 per cent having one dose.
Unlike some provinces, Manitoba has disbanded COVID-19 vaccination supersites, leaving it up to individuals to find appointments online and for doctors to ask patients if they’ve had the right number of doses.
dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca