Western Manitobans can look forward to vaccination service nearer home now.
The first vaccinations against COVID-19 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon will take place on Monday morning at 8:30. Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 12, at the Brandon site.
The center will operate 12 hours per day to vaccinate with the Pfizer vaccine. Staff has been hired to provide Westman citizens who are eligible and have made appointments.
The premier also introduced the Hon. Heather Stefanson, just eight days into her new role as Minister of Health.
Stefanson said, “This site provides further hope to Westman as we continue our battle against this virus.”
This new site will open its doors on Monday and will be ready to vaccinate 4,100 priority health-care workers in its first week of operations.
Eligibility Criteria as of Jan. 13:
- work in critical care units (intensive care units only, no age restrictions);
- work in long-term care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1977 (changed from Dec. 31, 1975);
- work in acute care facilities, born on or before Dec. 31, 1975;
- assigned to a COVID-19 immunization clinic or designated COVID-19 testing site (no age restrictions and may include some individuals who do not have direct contact with patients, based on their role);
- work in a laboratory handling COVID-19 specimens (no age restrictions and may include some individuals who do not have direct contact with patients, based on their role);
- work on a designated COVID-19 hospital ward (no age restrictions);
- work in provincial or federal correctional facilities (no age restrictions);
- emergency response services (ERS) and specialty patient transportation workers registered with their applicable college or association in Manitoba, born on or before December 31, 1975. This group includes professionals who perform ERS and patient transportation by land and air such as paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses and respiratory therapists;
- home care workers born on or before Dec. 31, 1975 (changed from Dec. 31, 1965) who are employed by a regional health authority (RHA), employed by a RHA contracted service providers or employed by a self- and family-managed care program client;
- work in hospital emergency and urgent care departments (no age restrictions), and;
- staff employed in congregate group care settings who provide direct care to individuals in the Community Living disABILITY Services, Child and Family Services, Homeless Shelters and Family Violence Shelters.
Manitoba Families will work directly with agencies to identify eligible staff, and will contact staff directly to schedule appointments.
