North Dakota offers free vaccinations to Manitoba truckers travelling to U.S.

North Dakota will offer free vaccines starting Wednesday to Manitoba truck drivers who transport goods across the border.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister andNorth Dakota Gov. Doug Burgummade the joint announcement on Tuesday.

This is the first such program between a Canadian and American jurisdiction, the leaders said during a news conference.

"It's really fantastic that we're able to sign this historic agreement during these incredibly challenging times," saidBurgum, who gave full credit to Pallisterfor the idea, saying the premier called him up and proposed it.

"Just like in the communities that he and I both grew up small, rural communities it was always about neighbours helping neighbours."

With help from the Manitoba Trucking Association, Manitoba will identify eligible driversand work with North Dakota to schedule vaccination appointments during those truckers' routine trips to the U.S. over the next six to eight weeks.

"The one thing going that's different right now is that the U.S. has got a lot of vaccine and Canada's got less, so this is an opportunity for us to work together," saidBurgum.

WATCH | Manitoba premier talks about partnership with North Dakota:

North Dakota to vaccinate cross-border truckers from Manitoba

3 years ago

Duration 0:58

As many as 4,000 Manitoba truckers who drive across the border into North Dakota are being offered a COVID-19 vaccine.

Roughly 2,000 to 4,000 Manitoba drivers are expected to take part in theprogram, set to begin Wednesday.

The state will be providing the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and, once it is approved again,the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

U.S. health officials put a "pause" on administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnsonvaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

"Today is a small victory over some of the challenges that we face in dealing with the largest health and economic pandemic in our time, and today is an important victory also for health-care co-operation,"Pallister said.

The North Dakota Department of Health will provide nurses and other staff to administer the first and second doses of the vaccine to provide full immunization of truckers.

The statewill then provide proof of immunization to those who are vaccinated, and share records of immunization with Manitoba.

No cost to Canada

There is no cost to the state or province, as the U.S. government supplies the vaccine and reimburses the costs to administer doses, a news release from the province says.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation's rest area near Drayton, N.D., which is 50 kilometres south of the international border,will initially serve as the vaccination site, operating fromnoon to 8 p.m. local time on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Manitoba's trucking industry israving about a first-of-its-kind initiative between the two countries.

Punjab Ghumman, a 32-year-old trucker from Winnipeg, is eager to take up North Dakota's offer. He travels through the state a few times a week.

"I think it's a great initiative," he said. "I get the sense of security and safety that I need and I can come back to my familyfeeling that much safer."

Searcy Trucking sent an email to their 150 drivers oncethe announcement was official. The majority of them cross the international border.

"I did hear already back from a few drivers that said they're going to take advantage of thatas early as this week," saidRachelle Baker, manager of driver services at the trucking firm.

During the pandemic, some truckersendured thestigmatization that has dogged their industry, Baker said. Some drivers were denied serviceat washrooms and restaurants while on the road, while others couldn't book a haircut or eye exam in Manitoba after international travel, although they're essential workers.

With a vaccine, "my hope isthatthey won't be questioned about it anymore," Baker said.

The Manitoba and North Dakota governmentsare establishing a joint operations group to manage the initiative, whichwill explore further waysto vaccinate other essential workers.

North Dakota has already administered more than 500,000 vaccine doses to its population of 762,000 people who are 18 and older, Burgumsaid.

Manitobans, by comparison,have received 341,926dosesas of April 20,according to the province's vaccination website. That's26 per cent of the population18 and older.

On Monday, the province announcedanyone 40 and older can now book a vaccinationappointment with a doctor or pharmacist offering the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

The announcement led to a surge in appointments, with many people now on waiting lists until more supply arrives.

The situation is much different in North Dakota, saidBurgum.

"With our supply increasing on a weekly basis we're starting to move from that place where, instead of rationing vaccine, we're marketing it,"hesaid.

While applauding the two governments for reaching adeal, federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said the arrangementis an indictment of the federal government's failure to procure vaccines.

"There's never been a starker example of how dire the vaccine shortageis in Canada," O'Tooletold an Ottawa news conference.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told question period in Reginathathe's in talks with Burgum about vaccinating transport drivers from his province.

Truckers driving to the front of the line for a COVID-19 vaccine

3 years ago

Duration 2:10

North Dakota will offer free vaccines starting Wednesday to Manitoba truck drivers who transport goods across the border.