Manitoba’s next focus on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout will target children aged five to 11, says Premier Heather Stefanson. .“As we eagerly await the approval for the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, we are here today to tell you that Manitoba is ready to implement the next phase of Manitoba’s vaccine campaign to protect our children ages five to 11,” Stefanson announced at a press conference Wednesday..The first doses of Pfizer’s pediatric version of the vaccine are expected to be available province-wide to about 125,000 children within a week of its soon anticipated approval by Health Canada. .That approval must be followed with a recommendation by the National Advisory Council on Immunization..The vaccine would be made available through provincial and regional vaccine clinics, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, urban indigenous clinics, and pop-up community clinics. Walk-ins will be an option at some locations, and in-school vaccinations will be offered both during and after school hours..“We are getting very close to reaching a new milestone, one that will mean all children in Manitoba ages five to 11 will have the chance to be protected from COVID-19 through immunization,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon..“The latest update is that Health Canada is nearing its final stages of the clinical review of the Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group. We are anticipating that Health Canada will soon have an announcement to make.”.“We are poised to launch the most robust and coordinated immunization effort in the province’s history to protect younger children.” .Gordon claimed there have been more than 16,000 cases of COVID-19 among children during the pandemic..“One child tragically lost their life to COVID-19.”.Manitoba will also re-launch its #ProtectMB campaign, with colourful graphics and youth-focused sticker designs that target children to encourage them to get vaccinated..“Although children and youth are less likely than adults to get critically ill from COVID-19, they can still get sick and spread the virus to others at school and in the community,” said Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of the Vaccine Implementation Task Force..“This vaccine is being rigorously tested and reviewed,” she said. “That process has been careful, with no steps being missed, and we’ll be ready.” .Currently, only those aged 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine..Some 87.2% of all eligible Manitobans have received at least one dose, and 84.4% have had two,.Wednesday the province recorded 162 new cases. There are 1,452 active cases..Earlier, Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial medical health officer, issued a warning..“We’re certainly approaching a level of restrictions that limits interactions between the unvaccinated. If we see numbers climbing and we see a strain on the health care system, we always have to consider doing more.”.Should things improve, “it’s really challenging to come up with a benchmark” to determine when health orders and vaccine passports would be lifted, he said..Last week the province issued new restrictions for religious gatherings in the Southern Health region and mandated that children aged 12-17 must be privately tested or vaccinated before being allowed to play indoor sports..Meanwhile, Manitoba’s opposition New Democrats recently vowed to call for an inquiry into the province’s COVID-19 response if they win the next election..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
