More vaccine doses on the way as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise

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This article was published 05/08/2022 (1299 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More people are landing in hospital due to COVID-19, according to the latest data from the province.

The weekly COVID-19 surveillance update released Thursday says 53 people were hospitalized during the week ending July 30, compared to 45 for the week ending July 23.

However, there was a slight decrease in the number of people being admitted to intensive care units. Seven were recorded for the latest reporting week, down from eight the previous week.

The province is reporting one new death, but five others were recorded within the past week. This brings Manitoba’s COVID-19 death toll to 2,067.

There are another six outbreaks in long-term care facilities and hospitals: Hillcrest Place and Rideau Park Personal Care Home, both in the Prairie Mountain Health region; East Gate Lodge Crocus unit in the Interlake-Eastern health region; Misericordia Place in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority; and Charleswood Long Term Care Home and Grace Hospital’s 3 North acute care unit, both in Winnipeg.

The provincial test positivity rate is 17.9 per cent, up from 17.1 per cent last week.

A total of 257 cases were confirmed during the week ending July 30, up from 242 the week before. However, those numbers are likely a significant undercount for the true number of infections. PCR testing is the only kind the province tracks and is limited to Manitobans who meet specific criteria.

Also in the weekly report, 83.1 per cent of eligible Manitobans aged five years and up have been fully vaccinated with two doses. For people aged 18 and older, 55.5 per cent have received at least one additional dose.

More infants and toddlers who haven’t received the vaccine will have their chance starting today with the arrival of 14,900 doses of the Moderna pediatric vaccine, according to a news release from the province.

Manitoba has already shipped 3,700 doses to regional vaccine sites and medical clinics, and another 2,100 have been sent to First Nations medical leadership to distribute in their communities. A second and final shipment of 28,000 doses was delayed, but is expected to arrive in the province soon, the release stated.

The supply is still expected to be limited, however. Because of this, the province is planning on reserving half of the doses to meet the two-dose requirement to meet the criteria for fully vaccinated.

Health Canada is reviewing a Pfizer vaccine for this age group as well. If this is approved, doses are expected to be available by the fall.

There are specific criteria for the pediatric vaccine listed in the release. Children must be at least six months old at the time of their appointment. In addition, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends children aged six months to four years receive a vaccine at least two weeks before or after any others to better monitor for any side-effects, but children who have received a different vaccine within 14 days will not be turned away.

Appointments are available at regional vaccine sites, public health offices and medical clinics. Parents and caregivers of eligible children can book appointments directly with medical clinics, with the online vaccine finder, or through the vaccine call centre at (toll-free) 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC). The phone line is recommended for parents and caregivers who may need to make more than one appointment at the same time.

Parents of children who are newly eligible for this vaccine should only book appointments beginning at 9 a.m. today.

More information on the vaccine and the vaccine finder can be found at protectmb.ca/.

» The Brandon Sun