Just over 700 people aged 18 and over from eight northern communities received their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the two-week pilot phase of the Thompson Vaxport in the first half of . . .
Northern Manitobans deserve a better vaccine rollout plan. Despite concerns from local community members in the Flin Flon constituency and across the north, this government continues to push forward with its disastrous Thompson Vaxport supersite plan. There is also a plan in the works to open another supersite vaccine clinic in either Flin Flon or The Pas, but to date they still haven’t said where this site will be located. Shipping people to Thompson on planes and buses will not only be time-consuming – it can take some communities eight to 12 hours to get to Thompson – but it also goes directly against public health messaging to stay apart from others. Why not roll out a plan similar to how personal care home residents were vaccinated and bring more vaccines to people? We should not be forcing our most vulnerable to travel and risk their safety in order to protect themselves from COVID-19. That’s just common sense.
The communities were first announced by the Manitoba government March 1.
“Communities were selected based on their readiness and ability to travel for the vaccine. Additional information about Manitoba’s immunization strategy for the north will be released in the coming days,” reads a provincial government statement on the program. According to Manitoba s vaccination guidelines, all members of the public over age 89 are currently eligible to book appointments for vaccine doses. The minimum age, as of March 3, is lower for First Nation people. First Nations people ages 69 and older are currently eligible for doses. While some people living in Flin Flon, The Pas, Thompson and on several northern Manitoba First Nations have received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, others in smaller communities have not had an opportunity for their doses yet. In Flin Flon, vaccinations have taken place for residents of the Flin Flon Personal Care Home and Northern Lights Manor, a
Posted: Feb 25, 2021 1:53 PM CT | Last Updated: February 25
A January photo shows a member of Norway House Cree Nation receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The provincial government has announced that First Nations people born on or before Dec. 31, 1946, can now call to book an appointment for the vaccine. (Submitted by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak)
Northern Manitoba may be starting to see the early benefits from the province s vaccine rollout, as eligibility expands to include more First Nations people.
Although COVID-19 case numbers in northern Manitoba remain higher than health officials would like to see, there have been some encouraging signs in recent weeks, says one doctor.