The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Manitoba will be administered Wednesday.

The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines has arrived in the province. Vaccinations for 900 people fitting a specific group of front-line workers begin this week. The Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin says that more doses will be arriving next week.

The doctor does not know who the first Manitoban to receive a vaccine will be. While it will be months before the average Manitoban will receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Roussin is hopeful that Manitobans will be able to safely gather once again.

"(I am ) sitting here today, thinking of all the months that we have been through this. We actually start fighting back today," Roussin says.

The province says they are prepared to give out the vaccines. They say they have ordered all of the necessary equipment and have the appropriate administration to do the job.

Reports of respiratory illnesses, including the flu, are significantly down this year. The steps being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as staying home, are also preventing the spread of these other viruses. 

Overall. COVID-19 case numbers are down in the province but the five-day test positivity rate remains high. Roussin says this is because there are fewer people getting tested. Acting Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal says they are still seeing community spread occur in a one-to-three ratio. He says many of the new cases are coming from household transmission.

Manitobans are asked to isolate themselves from their household members if they contract COVID-19. 

"The numbers are coming down. I think we can all see that," Atwal says. 

Atwal says more "stay at home" messaging will be presented to Manitobans in response to Christmas despite December 25 being next week.

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