December 16, 2021
Manitoba Commemorates One Year Since Administering First Covid-19 Vaccine
– – –Recipients, Immunizers Honoured at University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus: Gordon
Watch news conference
The province’s first COVID-19 vaccine recipients and immunizers were recognized in an event at the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, where the first vaccine doses were administered one year ago, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.
“These Manitobans are a part of our shared history and the ongoing fight against COVID-19,” said Gordon. “The first doses administered in Manitoba gave us all a ray of hope in the pandemic. Thank you to our front-line health care providers who were the first to be immunized and who answered the call when we needed to implement an unprecedented vaccine campaign. We’re so proud to celebrate this milestone, while continuing to encourage Manitobans to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated and practicing the fundamentals.”
The life-saving vaccine was first given to a priority group of front-line health-care workers who continue to work on the front lines throughout the pandemic. The first three Manitoba vaccine recipients were Dr. Brian Penner, registered nurse Sherry Plett and family urgent care physician Dr. Brian Sharkey.
“I am so grateful to be a Manitoban and a Canadian and this pandemic has shown me why,” said Sharkey. “I respect the organization and the vaccination program, and I am thankful for their responsibility and ownership. In a pandemic, many difficult decisions have to be made in the ongoing effort to protect Manitobans, and I respect that.”
To recognize their commitment to public health and a historic place in the vaccination campaign, one of the first vaccine recipients and one of the first immunizers will receive a letter from Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon thanking them for their service to Manitobans.
The University of Manitoba campus, adjacent to Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg, was the pilot site where the first 3,446 Pfizer doses were administered between Dec. 16 and 31, 2020, to eligible health-care workers.
The province is beginning discussions with the university to determine how to permanently commemorate the location as an important site in the province’s vaccination campaign, noted Gordon.
“The University of Manitoba is honoured to aid our province’s public health efforts through this historic immunization clinic and through the ongoing, invaluable research our faculty continues to conduct into this virus and its effects,” said Michael Benarroch, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manitoba. “We are grateful for all our front-line health care workers, many of whom are UM alumni, and we are proud to play a role in helping to protect them so that they can continue to their vital work.”
The minister was joined by Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead on Manitoba’s vaccine implementation taskforce, who welcomed the opportunity to mark the occasion while recognizing the urgent work still ahead.
“The COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and highly effective against the virus over the last year and they remain our best protection,” said Reimer. “Over the course of the vaccine campaign, thousands of people have stepped forward to work as immunizers, navigators and in data entry, and even more have added the vaccine to the health-care services they provide to clients and patients. Every day, with every vaccine administered, you are helping to save lives. This would not have been possible without you.”
The minister encouraged all Manitobans to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to provide as much protection as possible by strengthening the body’s immune response, especially against variants of concern. Children ages 5 to 11 are also now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information about the province’s vaccination campaign or to book a vaccine, visit https://protectmb.ca/.
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