Kids’ vaccine rollout should learn from past
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This article was published 02/12/2021 (544 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Earlier in November, thousands of families across northeast Winnipeg breathed a collective sigh of relief as they learned their kids are finally eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Now, over 100,000 children aged 5 to 11 across Manitoba will finally have a chance to roll up their sleeves and get the protection they need from COVID-19.
Vaccinating thousands of the youngest Manitobans means making sure that the provincial government creates a vaccine rollout plan that’s efficient, equitable, and effective, while learning lessons from the rocky vaccine distribution to adults earlier this year.
Whether it was refusing to initially release critical COVID infection data showing where the pandemic hit the hardest, not prioritizing vaccinations for many front-line workers and those at highest risk, or drafting confusing plans to send educators and childcare workers to North Dakota to get their shots, the first vaccine rollout was marked by countless mistakes, delays, and half-baked policies.
A life-saving immunization campaign should have been at the top of the government’s radar, yet the blunders of the Progressive Conservatives’ vaccine rollout left many behind for too long.
It wasn’t just the vaccine rollout that the government fumbled, though. As families faced tough choices and made sacrifices during the peak of the pandemic, the PCs remained steadfast on gutting health care and slashing services. In northeast Winnipeg, we saw the consolidation of blood and fluid testing clinics, the closure of our local CancerCare facility, and the cut of an IV clinic that served as a lifeline for many. All the while, our hospitals remained understaffed and our intensive-care units packed.
These cuts had consequences, and meant some Manitobans had their loved ones sent out of province for care — often with heartbreaking outcomes.
Our NDP team has called on the government to learn from these mistakes and do better. That’s why we’re advocating for an independent inquiry into the PC government’s pandemic response to ensure the children’s vaccine rollout is the best it can be and to prevent them from making the same mistakes again. It’s time we take an honest look at the pandemic response while listening to experts such as ICU doctors, nurses, and epidemiologists, and make sure that their independent recommendations are implemented.
If you would like to share your thoughts on how the government can learn from their mistakes and strengthen our health-care system, my office can be reached at 204-654-1857 or matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca
Matt Wiebe
Concordia constituency report
Matt Wiebe is the NDP MLA for Concordia.