Manitoba teens who are BIPOC, with underlying conditions eligible for 3rd COVID-19 vaccine

Manitoba teenagers who are Black, Indigenous or people of colour,those who live in congregate living facilitiesand those who have underlying health conditions can now receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The province is following the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which recommends a booster for kids age12-17 who may be at risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes due to biological and social risk factors, as well as those who face systemic barriers to accessing health care.

"We know that we have a significant population of teens who fit the criteria, who are at high risk of severe outcomes and would benefit from being as protected as possible," saidDr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead of Manitoba'svaccine implementation task force, in a virtual news conference on Monday.

Reimer saysyouth in the age groupwho live in shelters, group homes or correctional facilities are eligible for the booster, asthose who have underlying medical conditions, and/orbelong to racialized or marginalized communities.

NACI recommends people in the age group waitsix months between their second and third doses.

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Dr. Joss Reimer says the majority of Manitoba's youth aged 12-17 will be well protected by two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The province had already recommended that teens in this age group who aremoderatelyto severely immunocompromisedhave three doses for their first series of immunizations with a fourth, booster dose afterward.

Most teens who do not fit the specific criteria are not eligible for the third dose of the vaccine, because two doses keep the majority in that age group very well protected against hospitalization, ICU admission and death, Reimer said.

More details on who is eligible for their third dose is available on the province's website.

New data released

The booster recommendation comes the same day as the province released new data that suggestsCOVID-19 vaccine uptake is higher among BIPOC people in Manitoba, and those groups are seeing fewer severe outcomes of the disease than their counterparts who arewhite.

"This is a remarkable public health success that occurred in collaboration with members and leaders of BIPOC communities,"said Dr. Marcia Anderson,the public health lead of theManitoba First NationsCOVID-19 Pandemic Response Coordination Team in the news conference.

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Dr. Marcia Anderson says it's critical for BIPOC people, who are at higher risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19, to have better accessibility of COVID-19 booster shots and treatments in this Omicron-driven wave.

In spite of Manitoba public health leads making a crucial error in theirvaccine rolloutplans by focusing on age as the most clear indicator of risk instead of other risk factors, community groups have workedto make vaccines more accessible to BIPOC communities, Anderson said.

Previously-releaseddata has suggested that racial and ethnic minority groups and people who are Indigenous are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and suffering severe outcomes because of lower income levels, higher rates of overcrowdedhousing, a lack of access to health care and jobs with more contact with the public.

Public health officials worked to release the data on Monday to coincide with the latest recommendations for boosters, Anderson said.

"We knew it was pressing to be able to share the data to help members of BIPOC communities, families with young people in them, make informed choices," she said.

Because of increased transmission driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, there are more breakthrough infections among those who have two doses of the vaccine.

Anderson is encouraging all members of vulnerable communities, no matter their age, to consider getting the booster as soon as they are able, especially in light of increased transmission in First Nations.

"I'm very concerned with the transition that we've seen with higher proportions, not just of hospitalizations, but particularly ICU admissions," she said.

"That's where booster doses would be really helpful, as well as equitable access to the evolving treatments, including both the oral antivirals and the monoclonal antibodies."

She hopes the province will continue to work with community groups to ensure vaccines and treatment are as accessible as possible.

As of Monday, 80.3per cent of eligible Manitobans five and older had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 41.7 per cent had received three.

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