Manitoba has lowered its age eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Joss Reimer, head of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force says effective immediately, anyone born on or before December 31st, 2009, is now eligible for the vaccine. Prior to now, Manitobans needed to be at least 12 years of age to be eligible.
Dr. Reimer says the main reason they are making the shift from age to birth year, is because of school rollout. She notes when the province does its school immunizations, this is done based on cohorts so that an entire grade is vaccinated at one time.
“So as we move into the school year, we need to have a similar process,” she explains. “And as we have already said, we plan to take COVID-19 vaccines to all of the schools in Manitoba where there are children who are eligible.”
Dr. Reimer says in order to facilitate that, they held consultations with the education…