“Throughout the second and third waves of this pandemic, we have seen First Nations people make up 40 to 60 per cent of all COVID-19 admissions to intensive care units. Of these First Nations people, currently two-thirds of them live outside of First Nations communities and mostly in urban environments. That is why it is so important to get our communities – both on and off reserve – fully vaccinated as soon as possible,” said First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team public health lead Dr. Marcia Anderson. “Getting fully vaccinated will not only provide a greater level of protection to the individual, but to their family members and loved ones too.”
“We can control following the public health orders,” said Pallister. “We can control getting the first vaccine.” Most patients in intensive care and in hospital due to the virus and most of the new cases Manitoba is seeing are among people who haven’t received their first dose of vaccine, the premier said. Some people who have had first doses can begin booking appointments for their second doses beginning May 21 and eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine was recently expanded to include youth aged 12 to 17. A vaccine incentive program will be launched next week, Pallister said. “We need to incentivize the right kinds of behaviours. We have to make people feel more comfortable and confident that [getting vaccinated] is the right thing for them to do.”
Photograph By Thompson Citizen files With several recent instances of people in Thompson reporting on social media that they have found used syringes outside or in public areas of apartment buildings, the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) is reminding residents how to safely deal with discarded needles. If you find a needle, you should pick it up by the plunger end where it’s not sharp, wearing gloves or using tongs or pliers to protect yourself, says Courtney Almas, a public health nurse and the NRHA’s sexually transmitted, blood borne infections and harm reduction co-ordinator. The needles should then be deposited in a hard-sided container and the container labelled “sharps.” It can then be taken to any NRHA facility or a public needle container for disposal. If the container can not be taken for disposal immediately, it should be stored where it can’t be reached by children or pets. Needles should not be placed in household garbage or rec
Manitoba COVID-19 vaccine bulletin – 75
Corwyn Friesen, mySteinbach
Eligibility
Eligibility to be immunized at a super site or pop-up clinic has been expanded to include individuals aged 40 or older and Indigenous people aged 18 and older.
In addition, all adults aged 18 and older who live or work in specified jobs in these priority communities continue to be eligible to make an appointment:
Prairie Mountain Health – Brandon East End and Brandon Downtown;
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority – Inkster West, Fort Garry South, Seven Oaks West, Downtown East, Point Douglas South, Inkster East, Point Douglas North, Downtown West, River East South, St. Vital North and Seven Oaks East; and
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Those 40-years-old and older in Manitoba are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Doctors Manitoba says they are excited to see the Province of Manitoba pilot a new vaccination rollout. Previously clinics could only give the AstraZeneca vaccine, but some locations have been selected to give out mRNA vaccines. This is something we ve advocated for from the start, because we know that doctors can help reach more Manitobans, more quickly, to get us to herd immunity sooner, Doctors Manitoba tweets.
We re very excited that @MBGov is piloting the use of mRNA vaccines in doctors offices!
This is something we ve advocated for from the start, because we know that doctors can help reach more Manitobans, more quickly, to get us to herd immunity sooner. pic.twitter.com/MbMfz3J7IL