Manitobans can now get COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other jabs

Manitobans will now be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other immunizationsinstead of waiting weeks between the two shots.

Previously, people had to wait two weeks to 28 days between vaccines for different illnesses, depending on which shot was administered first, the province said in a vaccine bulletin on Monday.

"As you can imagine, this can make the scheduling of vaccines very complicated, especially as we're now getting to the time of year where we typically start giving the seasonal influenza vaccine," Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead of the vaccine implementation task force said in an online news conference on Monday.

"This is reducing another potential barrier for immunization because it means people don't need to make multiple appointments to protect themselves or their loved ones."

The change is consistent with updated guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)on Tuesday.

The national committee previously recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be given at least 28 days before or 14 days after other vaccines.

After reviewing the evolving evidence on COVID-19 vaccines and considering extensive data and experience of giving other routine vaccines at the same time or within days of each other, the national committee determined the cautious approach is not necessary.

Reimer says this change is in line with other vaccines.

"If you think back to childhood immunization or your child's immunization schedule, it's likely they got more than one needle in the same visit," she said.

School vaccine clinics

Reimer also provided an update on school-based vaccine clinics in the province, which have been going on for the last three weeks.

To date, about 50 clinics have taken place, and they've given about 400 doses. About three-quarters of these doses were given to eligible young people while one-quarter were given to community members outside of school hours.

Over half were first doses, Reimer says.

"It's really great to hear that we're reaching peoplewho are at this point unprotected," she said.

"At this stage in the pandemic, every dose and every person that we can protect with the vaccine is important."

Roughly 100 school-based vaccine clinics are scheduled for this week.

As of Monday, 85.2 per cent of eligible Manitobans have received one dose of the coronavirus vaccine and 81.1per cent have had both.

Roughly 70 per cent of youth in Grades 7 to 12 are fully immunized, Reimer said.