Expecting fewer Pfizer shots, province recommends getting Moderna for 2nd doses

The province says it's been told that shipments of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to slow down at the beginning of July, resulting in fewer Pfizer appointments in the weeks ahead.

This means the province is putting a pause on second-dose appointments of the Pfizer vaccine for young people aged 12 to 17.

The Manitoba government was notified late Wednesday that it will be receiving fewer than half of the shipments of Pfizer vaccine it had been expecting for the first week of July, Johanu Botha, operations leader of Manitoba's vaccine rollout, saidduring a news conference Thursday afternoon.

This does not affect the province's vaccine rollout plans for June, he said, but may impact appointments made after July 7.

At this time, no appointments are being cancelled, but it is a possibility,he said.

Bothasaid the province may get an updated shipment schedule from the federal government for the rest of July as early asThursday evening, at which point it will know more.

"We'll have to wait to see what comes back from from the federal government in terms of the confirmed shipment delivery schedule. Ideally, we're able to honour all of them, either with Pfizer or with alternate mRNAtype," he said.

Pfizer vaccine slowdown a 'bump in the road' affecting Manitobans aged 12-17: Dr. Jazz Atwal

3 years ago

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Dr. Jazz Atwal, deputy chief provincial public health officer, said Friday a slowdown in shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will impact the ability of 12- to 17-year-olds to access vaccines. Currently, Manitobans in that age group are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.

In the unfortunate circumstance where the province does have to cancel appointments because Pfizer supplies have dried up,Botha said,it willinform the relevant clientsmany days in advance so they can make other plans.

However, he said he expects the increased doses ofthe Modernavaccinethe province is expected to receive in the coming weeks will make up for the shortage of Pfizer, and that people could get Moderna for their second shot instead.

Provincial health officials have said 300,000Moderna doses are expected to arrive this week and next.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccine implementation task force, said the incoming Moderna supply should reassure people they'll be able to get a jab.

"If people have an appointment in July and they're concerned that it might be cancelledwe welcome them to look at one of the Moderna appointments, try coming to the walk-ins, going to see their doctor or their pharmacist any of those other options to get Moderna rather than waiting for their Pfizer dose," Reimer said.

Mixing vaccine brands isn't something new to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. "We do feel confident that the immune response is going to be great if you get one dose of Pfizer and the second dose of Moderna."

For now, young people ages 12 to 17 will not be able to book their second doses of the Pfizer vaccine until the province sees an updated vaccine shipment schedule for the rest of July, Botha said.

Pfizer is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for those under 18 in Canada.

Botha says he doesn't expect this will create much of a delay in when young people will actually get their second doses anyway, since they would likely have to wait two to three weeks for their appointment.

The Manitoba government made the announcement via Twitter Thursday afternoon.

The province says many appointments are available next week for the Moderna vaccine, and will be available in the weeks to come.