Manitoba continues to adjust its immunization plans in response to the ongoing reductions and delays in vaccine shipments to the province.

Manitoba has been told it can expect 3,510 doses of Pfizer next week and 15,210 doses the week of Feb. 15. Manitoba does not have any delivery projections for Moderna. To date, the Astra Zeneca vaccine has not been authorized for use in Canada, so it is unclear when this vaccine may be available for use in doctor’s clinics and pharmacies.

As part of the province’s plan to immunize residents in congregate living facilities, focused immunization teams (FITs) have provided first doses to residents in Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital, Gimli Community Health Centre, KeKiNan Centre in Winnipeg, Vita and District Health Centre and transitional beds at Gladstone Health Centre. FITs will continue to immunize some eligible and consenting residents of congregate living settings, but plans for many rural sites will be paused until additional information is available about the supply of the Moderna vaccine.

Additional first-dose appointments will be made available to eligible Manitobans at the RBC Convention Centre super site in Winnipeg and the Keystone Centre super site in Brandon. The phone line will begin accepting appointments Monday, Feb. 8. In response to ongoing supply disruptions, Manitoba will reserve the second doses for these individuals from upcoming vaccine shipments, to ensure they can be fully protected within the recommended timeframe.

Vaxport in Thompson will serve more remote northern First Nations, municipal and Indigenous and Northern Affairs communities. In consultation with communities, it will schedule eligible residents by either air or motor coach transport to be immunized, and then return home the same day. The launch of Vaxport was delayed by vaccine supply issues, but is now slated to open March 1. Further information about Vaxport will be provided in the coming weeks.

Vaccine Administration

To date, 45,100 doses of vaccine have been administered including 33,289 first doses and 11,811 second doses. As of Feb. 4, Manitoba remains second in the country in the number of people who have received two doses of vaccine and are fully protected against COVID-19, at 792 per 100,000.

An update from FITs, including a final update from visits to personal care homes to administer first-doses of vaccine, will be provided on Monday, Feb. 8.

On Feb. 1, the First Nations Pandemic Response Co-ordination Team and the Manitoba government provided an update on immunization plans to protect First Nations people. In total, 11,800 doses have been allocated to immunize First Nations priority populations. The province is also expanding its immunization efforts in Northern Affairs communities in the next two weeks, as well as a targeted immunization campaign in Churchill this week.

The super site in Thompson opened on Monday to provide first doses to eligible Manitobans. Pop-up sites launch in The Pas and Flin Flon next week. The province will be ready to open additional supersites on March 1, but they will not officially open or begin accepting appointments until vaccine supplies become more predictable.

Appointments and Eligibility Criteria

Eligible First Nations health-care workers and other priority populations can now call to make an appointment at a pop-up site in Winnipeg next week. Individuals who are eligible to make an appointment have received booking information from their employer and can begin calling today.

All available first-dose appointments in Thompson, Flin Flon and The Pas have been booked.

Second-dose appointments initially scheduled from Feb. 15 to 17 are being rescheduled due to the vaccine supply disruption. The province will reach out to affected people by email or text to reschedule these appointments within a few days of the originally scheduled date. This will ensure individuals can still receive their second dose within the recommended timeline. Plan to attend your second-dose appointments as scheduled unless you are contacted.

For current information and updates on eligibility, visit gov.mb.ca.

Vaccine Supply and Distribution

To date, a total of 57,990 doses of vaccine have been delivered to Manitoba. This includes:

  • 43,290 doses of Pfizer vaccine, based on six doses per vial; and
  • 14,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

This week, Manitoba expects to receive 8,100 Moderna doses.

Additional Information

Manitoba has started reporting on its daily maximum capacity to administer doses of vaccine, as part of the online dashboard. This is currently 7,097 doses, with the target of achieving capacity for 20,000 doses per day by April 1.

A new vaccination calculator is now available online and lets Manitobans see where they are in the priority line, based on their age, vaccine uptake and other factors. The calculator and more information about the vaccine campaign in Manitoba is available at manitoba.ca.

All data in this bulletin is current as of Feb. 4.