Province widens fourth-dose eligibility but recommends waiting for new COVID vaccine
The Manitoba government is expanding eligibility for fourth COVID-19 shots, but encouraging people to wait until they’re eligible for a new vaccine that target Omicron variants.
The province is also ending walk-in appointments at its main Winnipeg site.
“I would wait; I think it’s best to wait for that bivalent vaccine,” Manitoba deputy chief public health officer, Dr. Jazz Atwal, told a news briefing Friday.
Manitoba is allowing anyone age 12 and up to get their fourth shot, known as a second booster, as of Sept. 12. (Lars Hagberg / The Canadian Press files)
Canada this week approved the first COVID-19 vaccine modified to prevent infection from the more contagious BA.1 variant, a form of Omicron. This is known as a bivalent vaccine, as it targets both this variant and the original Wuhan strain.
The first of these shots will arrive in Manitoba next week; the province will initially make the bivalent doses available for more vulnerable groups.
That includes adults age 65 and older, Indigenous people age 18 and older, immunocompromised adults, personal-care home residents and health-care workers.
The bivalent vaccine is recommended for people who had their last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago, but they can shorten that period to three months “if they feel they are at increased risk,” Atwal said.
Meanwhile, Manitoba is allowing anyone age 12 and up to get their fourth shot, known as a second booster, as of Sept. 12.
“But we encourage everyone to wait a few more weeks, and get a dose of the bivalent vaccine when they become eligible,” Atwal said.
That’s because of added protection from the bivalent shots, and federal supplies that will likely mean all Manitoba adults will be eligible for that shot “in the coming weeks.”
Quebec opened fourth-shot eligibility for all adults in May, followed by Ontario in July.
The fourth doses — whether regular or bivalent shots — can be administered at the same time as other injections, such as the seasonal flu shot, Atwal said.
The bivalent shot is available only to people who have already had at least two doses of the original form of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The province will have more information on how to book shots next week.
Manitoba expects a shipment of 27,650 bivalent doses next week, and a further 77,600 the week of Sept. 12. The doses will be distributed to vaccination sites and First Nations.
American authorities have already approved a different bivalent vaccine that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 strains that are currently circulating in North America.
The province is also announcing that walk-in appointments will no longer be available at the RBC Convention Centre after next Saturday, and the last appointments for shots there will occur Sept. 17.
A new clinic is opening at 1680 Notre Dame Ave., near Keewatin Street, for appointments only, starting Sept. 20.
Dylan Robertson
Parliamentary bureau chief
In Ottawa, Dylan enjoys snooping through freedom-of-information requests and asking politicians: “What about Manitoba?”
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Credit: Province widens fourth-dose eligibility but recommends waiting for new COVID vaccine
