News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

January 22, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin #28



This morning, the federal government advised Manitoba to expect a third supply reduction of the Pfizer vaccine. In the week of Feb. 1, Manitoba will receive two trays of vaccine (2,340 doses) instead of five (5,850 doses). Projections for the week of Feb. 8 are no longer being provided. The known reductions over the next two weeks (Jan. 25 to Feb. 7) represent a 90 per cent decrease from what was projected last week. So far, this means Manitoba will be receiving 32,760 fewer doses than had been expected.

As a result, Manitoba will stop taking appointments for the Winnipeg and Brandon super sites immediately. The province is currently reviewing its supply of vaccine to determine if any booked appointments will have to be cancelled as a result and will update Manitobans as soon as possible.

Manitoba has finalized additional guidance for health-care providers to help them answer questions from their patients and determine whether individuals with certain conditions should receive the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible. This includes people who have suppressed immune systems, have autoimmune conditions, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. This guidance is posted at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/healthcare-professionals.html.

A total of 23,884 doses of vaccine have been administered in Manitoba including 20,846 first doses and a total of 3,038 second doses.

Focused immunization teams are providing immunizations at personal care homes across the province and will deliver first doses to all eligible and consenting residents by the end of January.

By the end of this week, teams will have visited 61 personal care homes with an estimated 3,903 residents. An estimated 90 per cent of residents have been immunized. Information about immunizations is not available from teams in real time, so a more accurate percentage will be available once the first visits are complete and data is entered. Next week, the teams will visit another 62 sites.

Updated information about appointments and eligibility criteria are posted at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html and shared by @MBGov on Twitter. 

The next super site will open at the Thompson Regional Community Centre on Feb. 1 and will initially use the Moderna vaccine. Eligible Manitobans can begin calling to book appointments on Monday, Jan. 25. 

Manitobans are reminded they cannot book an appointment by calling the super sites directly.

To date, a total of 55,650 doses of vaccine has been delivered to Manitoba. This includes:
• 40,950 doses of Pfizer vaccine, based on six doses per vial; and
• 14,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

No vaccine deliveries are expected next week, as a result of the Pfizer vaccine supply disruption.

For the week of Jan. 18, the lowest level of super-site inventory is expected to be approximately 6,873 doses. This will be updated as the province receives details about today’s third Pfizer reduction. A graph posted at www.manitoba.ca/covid19/vaccine/reports.html outlines the expected levels of inventory for the coming weeks.

All data in this bulletin is current as of Jan. 21.

The vaccine dashboard is updated daily at 12:30 p.m. at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine.

- 30 -

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED




Backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2021/01/BG-COVID_Vaccine_28-HL.pdf