Manitoba opens eligibility to updated Moderna vaccine for Omicron variant – CBC.ca

Manitobans 65 and older, as well as Indigenous people 18 and older, are among the first people in the province eligible for the updated Moderna vaccine that targets the Omicron variant.

The bivalent vaccine, developed to protect against the original strain of the virus and the variant, was approved by Health Canada earlier this week for people age 18 and older.

The initial eligibility group in Manitoba also includes:

• Adults of any age with higher-risk medical conditions, including people who are immunocompromised due to a health condition or medication.
• Health-care workers age 18 or older.
• Residents of personal care homes and other congregate living facilities, including assisted living, group homes, shelters and correctional facilities.

Manitoba expects to receive its first shipment of 27,650 doses of vaccine next week, which will then be distributed to vaccine locations across the province, said Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer.

A second shipment of 77,600 doses is confirmed for the week of Sept. 12 and additional vaccine deliveries are expected in the following weeks.

Starting that same day, anyone age 12 and older will be eligible for a fall booster of the monovalent (original) vaccine, though Atwall strongly suggests they wait, if possible, for access to a bivalent vaccine because it provides broader coverage.

He did not say, though, when that age group would be eligible for the updated version. The province expects to be expand eligibility to those 18 and older in the coming weeks, based on vaccine supplies and initial uptake among eligible groups.

Updates on further eligibility and supply will be made at some point, he said.

Atwal’s suggestion that people delay their shot until they can get the bivalent vaccine goes against the province’s repeated messaging throughout the pandemic to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

When asked about that contradiction, Atwal said the science shows those at highest risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 are those who will be eligible for the bivalent vaccine first.

“The idea behind a vaccine is to prevent those severe outcomes. That’s what was the issue right from the beginning,”  he said.

“It’s not really about infection, per se. Most people will get an infection. Most Manitobans have had a COVID infection and most Manitobans have done well.”

Based on blood samples taken across the province, Atwall estimated 87.5 per cent of Manitobans have already had a COVID infection. 

“It is those who are highest risk who we want to protect the most. Others are otherwise relatively healthy,” he said.

When analyzing data from the pandemic, focusing on the number of infections rather than severe outcomes “really does not help the situation at all,” he said.

“Don’t fret if you have to wait for your appointment for a couple of weeks, or even three weeks or four weeks. It’s OK to wait,” he said.

“The important thing here is, when that vaccine is available for you, book your appointment and get that bivalent vaccine. I think that’s the strongest message we want to bring forth.”

Available in mid-September

Appointments for the bivalent vaccine are expected to be available in mid-September, but people must first have completed their primary series of vaccines (usually two doses) before receiving the bivalent.

It is recommended to wait six months from the last dose of vaccine or COVID-19 infection. However, individuals who meet the criteria can receive the bivalent vaccine after a minimum of three months, if they feel they are at increased risk, Atwal said.

The bivalent vaccine can be given at the same time as other immunizations, such as the seasonal flu vaccine, once it becomes available this fall.

The bivalent vaccine was designed around Omicron BA.1, while BA.5 is the variant primarily circulating in the province, but it will still be effective, Atwal said, just as the original vaccine is effective against multiple variants of COVID-19.

“Variants change. Right now it’s BA.5, in six weeks it might be BA something else,” he said. “But all of those variants within Omicron, they’re like brothers and sisters.”

Early studies indicate the bivalent vaccine should have just as much impact on the different Omicron subvariants, Atwal said.

“This is all going to evolve. There will be other variants coming, and the more coverage you have, the more protection you have down the road for the next variant that may come.”

No silver bullet

Health officials are treating COVID as they do seasonal influenza, which comes in various strains with vaccines developed to target the most predominant one, Atwall said.

“There’s no silver bullet here,” he said. “The vaccines available will help reduce transmission and it should help reduce severe outcomes. We don’t want the deaths, we don’t want the hospitalizations, we don’t want the ICU admissions.

“This vaccine should do that.”

COVID is here to stay and it’s going to evolve, Atwal said. The question is whether it will flare up seasonally or linger year-round, as it has so far.

“There’s some questions we don’t know yet but yes … it’s likely here to stay, just like influenza,” he said.

Appointments for those eligible will start next week through the online vaccine booking tool, the vaccine call centre at 1-844-626-8222 (toll-free) or by contacting medical clinics and pharmacies directly, Atwall said.

Walk-in vaccinations will no longer be available at RBC Convention Centre after Sept. 10. The last day of operations at the convention centre will be Sept. 17.

The first appointments at a new vaccine clinic opening at 1680 Notre Dame Ave. will be Sept. 20. However, walk-ins will not be available at that location.

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