3rd doses to be expanded to Manitoba health-care workers, people who got AZ or Johnson & Johnson
CBC
Manitoba is expanding the eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to thousands of health-care workers and anyone who received the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
On Tuesday afternoon, Doctors Manitoba informed its members via email the province plans to expand the eligibility for the booster shots on Wednesday.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and any other health-care workers who provide direct patient care will be eligible for third doses as long as six months have gone by since their second doses.
The boosters are not compulsory, but they are recommended for health-care workers.
"While the evolving evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness remains high against severe outcomes (e.g. hospitalization or death), there is evidence of waning immunity at least against symptomatic infection," Doctors Manitoba states in the email.
"Given the risk of exposure in health-care settings if symptomatic, the province will make booster shots available to health-care workers, including physicians.
"It is important to note that health-care workers who are fully immunized but become infected could transmit COVID-19 to patients with whom they have direct contact. If symptomatic, fully-vaccinated health care workers will be required to isolate."