Dr. Joss Reimer, Manitoba's medical lead for the COVID-19 immunization task force is announcing Wednesday afternoon that some Manitobans may be getting a third COVID-19 vaccine.

Those eligible will include:

  • people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition and/or treatment
  • individuals who wish to receive a third dose for travel purposes
  • individuals who have received one or two doses of a vaccine that is not approved by Health Canada

Those eligible can reveal a third dose as soon as 28-days after their second vaccine.

Travellers will need to go through an informed consent process and be vaccinated by their healthcare provider or present a prescription to a pharmacist to receive a third dose. It cannot be given at a vaccine site. A third dose could be requested if going to places with different vaccine requirements.

Examples of conditions and treatments that will make people who are immunocompromised eligible for a third dose include those who:

  • are receiving active chemotherapy (or immunotherapy) for cancer
  • have received a solid organ transplant and are currently receiving chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapy
  • were born with moderate or severe dysfunction of their immune system
  • are living with untreated or advanced HIV-AIDS
  • are taking certain medications that severely affect the immune system

If someone has received one or two COVID-19 vaccines that have not been approved by Health Canada they can be immunized with approved mRNA vaccines at any Manitoban vaccine location. They can also update their previous immunization record with the province.