The eligibility for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is being expanded to include First Nations people living on reserve in Manitoba.
This includes an estimated 7,200 people.
Dr. Marcia Anderson, Public Health Lead of the First Nations Pandemic Coordination Team says that First Nations people are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
“First Nations communities are seeing breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among people who are fully vaccinated. The risk of a severe outcome remains much lower for vaccinated individuals than for unvaccinated people, although we are seeing some severe outcomes in vaccinated people as well.”
The province says the third dose should be given at least six months after the second shot. Manitoba first offered a third dose to immunocompromised people in mid-September.
