Manitoba won't expand AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine eligibility to 65 and older, for now

Manitoba won't change its eligibility requirements for the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine to match the new recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, at least for now.

On Monday, NACIrevised its earlier recommendationfor that vaccineto include those age 65 and older. Manitoba rolled out a plan last week to give the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot to vulnerable people younger than 65on the basis of NACI's earlier advice.

"Over the long term, this is great news. We want to have more flexibility about how we can provide vaccine to Manitobans," said Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the Manitoba vaccine task force.

"But right now, that doesn't changethe fact that we only have 18,000 doses of AstraZeneca available. So for now,we'll be sticking with the current eligibility criteria."

Manitoba continues to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine to older Manitobans, expanding the eligibility Wednesday to include everyone 73 and older and First Nations people 53 and older.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is being delivered through medical clinics and pharmacies throughout the province. Around 190 pharmacies and clinics are currently giving out the vaccine and sofar, Manitoba has administered about 1,500 doses.

Reimer called that number "extremely encouraging," given that many of the AstraZeneca-Oxford doses didn't go outuntil late last week or early this week, and the data entered into the system lags behind when the doses are actually administered.

"It means that the pharmacists and docs started administering as quickly as they possibly could, some of them the same day that the vaccines arrived in their facilities," she said.

Online booking system launched

Manitobans can now book appointments for a coronavirusvaccine through an online system that launched Wednesday.

Eligible people can make appointments online forone of the four vaccine supersites in the province. The online system is not available for booking appointments at medical clinics or pharmacies.

The online booking system requires an email address and a health cardnumber. The call centre also remains openfor booking appointments.

The age of eligibility for the vaccine has lowered to 73 and older for the general population, and53 and older for First Nations people.

Manitobans age 50-64 and First Nations people age 30-64with certain health conditions that place them at risk are eligible for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

Spouses who meet the eligibility requirements can now book appointments together.

Thefirst temporary vaccine clinics launchedin rural and northern Manitoba on Tuesday in Gimli and Beausejour, and another opened in Pine Falls on Wednesday. Eligible Manitobans canbookappointments at those sites by calling1-844-626-8222.

Ascheduleon the provincial government's websiteincludes opening datesfor other pop-up clinics openingfrom March 16-26.

Public persuasion campaign

Manitoba is also launching a communications campaign to encourage people in the province to get vaccinated.

Internalresearch has found that roughly 80 per cent of Manitobans have either already received the vaccine or are likely to get it, while nineper cent are considered "skeptical" about the vaccine and another 10 per cent are thought to be completely opposed to getting vaccinated.

As part of the campaign, dubbed #ProtectMB, people will be ableto sign up to receive notifications when they become eligible for vaccination.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends the AstraZeneca-Oxford shot for people 65 and older as well as younger adults. It had earlier been recommended only for people under 65.

Dr. Theresa Tam,Canada's chief public health officer,has said thereis no evidence to suggest itis causingadverse events, although some European countries have suspended its use.