The Manitoba government says it got 100,000 phone calls asking about 900 available appointments to receive the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the province later this week.

The province announced the 900 spots on Saturday, which will go only to eligible health-care workers.

But the province says some of the people who called did not meet the eligibility criteria.

The government says the first vaccines are for people who work directly with patients in acute, critical or long-term care, and there are minimum age requirements.

The first vaccinations are expected to be given on Wednesday.

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The Canadian Press