Province outlines eligibility for Moderna booster

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This article was published 03/09/2022 (1266 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the province prepares for a fall immunization campaign with a new COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, supersites are likely not in the plans.

The province will be receiving the new Moderna bivalent vaccine, which was approved for use in Canada this week. Appointments are expected to be available for the new vaccine by mid-September. The first shipment of 27,650 doses is expected next week.

A second shipment of 77,600 doses is expected during the week of Sept. 12.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, said in a news conference based on the number of doses expected in the first shipment, eligibility will be open to adults 65 and older; Indigenous people 18 and older, no matter where they live; adults of any age with higher-risk medical conditions; health-care workers 18 and older; and residents of personal care homes and other congregate living facilities.

Atwal said Manitobans must wait six months from their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or COVID infection, but those who meet the stated criteria can receive a bivalent vaccine after a minimum of three months if they feel they are at greater risk of infection.

“Based on supplies and initial uptake among eligible groups, we expect to be able to expand eligibility for the bivalent vaccine to all Manitobans aged 18 and older in the coming weeks,” said Atwal.

Eligibility for fourth doses is also being expanded to all Manitobans 12 years and older starting Sept. 12.

While people can book their appointment after this date, Atwal suggested people wait a few extra weeks until they are eligible for the new vaccine.

“The bivalent vaccine is expected to provide broader protection against two different COVID-19 strains and a greater overall defence for Manitobans,” he said. “This vaccine will be available through regular channels, so just like you are getting your vaccine right now is how you should be able to get the bivalent vaccine, going forward.

“Again, there will be limited supplies early on. The important thing here is, when that vaccine is available for you, book your appointment and get that bivalent vaccine.”

The Sun contacted the province on Thursday to ask if there would be any supersites, such as at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, to roll out the vaccine as there was during the pandemic. A spokesperson stated in an email the provincial government would make announcements about changes or expansions to vaccine plans as needed.

The province stated in previous comments that walk-in appointments will no longer be happening at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, the last vaccine supersite in the province, after Sept. 10. The last day of operations at the centre will be Sept. 17.

Manitoba’s vaccine rollout is following the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines, explained Atwal. All of that evolves as the virus and vaccines evolve. The omicron virus is a different “animal,” he said, likening it to a cousin of the original virus strains alpha, beta and delta. Omicron has evolved into BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5. The bivalent vaccine will offer broader coverage, giving the province what it needs to protect the health-care system: reduced severe outcomes like hospitalizations and deaths.

There have been fewer overall hospitalizations and death since the omicron strains have taken over, he added. The subvariants are so far less aggressive.

He also attributed the reduction in sicknesses to the majority of Manitobans getting vaccinated, giving the virus fewer chances to cause major illnesses.

That isn’t to say it won’t change, he said.

“So far, COVID is behaving much like the flu, it’s seasonal,” he said. “But there’s nothing to say it will stay that way. We are dealing with a relatively new virus in COVID. The aim was always to reduce severe outcomes, not infections. Everyone gets infections, eventually. We should be looking at severe outcomes, not infections.”

When asked if COVID can now be considered endemic, Atwal said he is sure the virus is here to stay and there would be new variants.

»kmckinley@randonsun.com, with files from the Sun

» Twitter: @karenleighmcki1