Appointments for COVID-19, flu vaccines in Manitoba filling up fast, pharmacists say

Appointments are now available for COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots at pharmacies and other locations in Manitoba, though local pharmacists say they're filling up fast.

The first shipments of the updated ModernaCOVID-19 vaccine arrived in Manitoba last week for use at high-priority locations such as personal care homes and hospitals, according to a news release from Manitoba Health.

At the Medicine Shoppe in Winnipeg's Osborne Village, pharmacist Jason Hoeppner saysall 400 doses from his pharmacy's first shipment have already been allotted for appointments.

"We're already booking into our next shipment and and hoping that one comes in the next couple of weeks too," he said.

Hoeppner asked that people be patient as pharmacies try to get as many people vaccinated and boosted as possible heading into respiratory virus season.

"We will make sure that everybody who wants and needs a COVID vaccine will get one."

At Exchange District Pharmacy, Ryan Chen says thefirst shipment of the new COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots came in Friday, but the pharmacy has been getting calls about them for weeks.

The updated Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccineshavebeen formulated to better protect against the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant, meaning they're more tailored to the virus strains currently circulating.

Appointments for COVID-19, flu vaccines in Manitoba filling up fast

1 year ago

Duration 2:21

The newly-approved first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Manitoba. Health Canada approved the new vaccination earlier this year. It's especially recommended for suffering the effects of long COVID, as well as the elderly and people who are immunocompromised.

The easiest way to get your shots is to make an appointment online, said Chen.

"It does get a little bit hectic," but making an appointment "minimizes your wait time," he said.

Both pharmacists pointed out that you can also plan to get both your COVID-19 and flu shots done at the same time.

"There's no right or wrong answer," Chen said.

To find a location, you can go to the province's online vaccine finder.

COVID-19 levels increasing

According to the province's most recent respiratory illness surveillance data, covering the week of Oct. 1 to 7,the Winnipeg area had similar COVID-19 activitycompared to the fall of 2022, whileBrandon had lower activity.

However, wastewater surveillance data up to Oct. 5 shows COVID-19 activity in Brandon and Winnipeg's south and west end is increasing, the report said.

The province reported 40 COVID-19-related hospital admissions for the week, including two that required intensive care, the report says.

That's down from 44 the week of Sept. 24 to 30, when there were seven COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU.

Flu activity for the week continued to be low, according to the report.