Manitobans aged 50 to 64, and First Nations people, aged 30 to 64, will be the first the get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Lead on the provincial vaccine task force, Dr. Joss Reimer, made the announcement at a news conference today (Wed), and comes as the initial 18-thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine was delivered to the province.
Reimer says a priority list broken down into two groups of people with various chronic health conditions, has been made.
This is the list from the Manitoba government’s website:
Priority List 1:
- Individuals with the following chronic health conditions:
- end stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis OR peritoneal dialysis
- cirrhosis due to any cause OR portal hypertension
- heart failure (class III/IV ), ventricular assist device OR adult congenital heart disease stage C and D
- severe COPD, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease OR cystic fibrosis
- history of cerebral vascular accident with residual deficits
- malignant hematologic disorders including leukemia and lymphoma OR clonal blood disorder
- malignant neoplasms (solid tissue) who will receive or are currently receiving immunosuppressive therapy including chemotherapy
- severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40)
- receiving one or more of the following immunosuppressive therapies: B cell therapies (e.g., rituximab, ocrelizumab), cyclophosphamide, alemtuzumab, calcineurin inhibitors, chronic dose prednisone >=20mg/day, mycophenolate, sulfasalazine and JAK inhibitors (e.g., tofacitinib)
- solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (candidate or recipient)
- trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
- asplenia or hyposplenism (including sickle cell disease)
- Individuals receiving home care ≥ 4 times/week OR receive 24/7 support from Community Living Disability Services.
- Pregnant individuals (18 to ≤ 64 years of age) with one of: aged ≥ 35 years, BMI ≥ 30, pre-existing diabetes, pre-existing hypertension, cardiac or pulmonary disease.
Priority List 2:
- Individuals with the following chronic health conditions:
- Chronic cardiovascular disease including heart failure (class I/II), coronary artery disease, malignant tachyarrythmia OR cardiomyopathies
- chronic liver disease
- chronic neurologic OR neurodevelopmental conditions including cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS OR dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)
- chronic pulmonary disease including COPD OR severe and/or uncontrolled asthma
- chronic renal disease
- HIV (CD4 cell count ≥ 200 x 106/L and CD4 percentage ≥ 15%)
- severe systemic autoimmune disorders (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, myocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis)
- type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled and/or with complications)
- active tuberculosis (current or previous) OR current latent tuberculosis (LTBI)
- receiving immunosuppressing therapy
- Individuals receiving homecare ≤ 3 times/week OR any level of Community Living Disability Services supports (or as per family physician determination of equivalent levels of family support).
- Household contacts of individuals with Priority 1 chronic health conditions OR designated support person(s) for personal care home residents (in the authorized age category).
“I know that this list of conditions may be confusing for some Manitobans, but we do believe that creating this list is the right way to go to save lives and prevent people from ending up in the hospital,” Reimer said.
Pilot project to administer AstraZeneca doses at pharmacies and clinics
Manitoba has started a pilot project of distributing the first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to some participating pharmacies and clinics.
Dr. Reimer says one advantage of this is that doctors and pharmacies know exactly who would be eligible to receive a vaccine, based on the province’s priority list.
“The disadvantage is it does mean we’re going to have less consistency. There’s going to be a variety of approaches from each provider, and as much as we provide guidance, they are private businesses. We don’t control everything that they do in their clinic.” she added.
Pop-up clinics will be opening up at several locations this month, including Swan River, Dauphin and The Pas.
The Swan River location, at the Swan River Veteran’s Hall, will be open March 24th from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. and March 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Pas location, at the Roy H. Johnston Arena, will open March 24th and 31st from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Dauphin location, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall, will open March 18 from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. and March 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The number to book a vaccine appointment is 1-844-626-8222.