COVID-19 Vaccine Information: Presentation for MNPHA - March 29, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
  Presentation for MNPHA
         March 29, 2021

Today we will cover
• Reminders about testing and public health
  guidelines
• Available vaccines
• Eligibility criteria
• Important things to know
  – before you get the vaccine
  – after you get the vaccine
• Additional resources

COVID-19 Cases in MB

                Source: Government of Manitoba

Provincial Response Level
                  CRITICAL
• Community spread of COVID-19 is not
  contained and/or there are significant strains
  on our health care system.
• Guidelines vary by region and are subject to
  change based on case count
• Important to stay up to date!

Where should I get information?
• Province of Manitoba
  – General COVID information
  – https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html

• Shared Health
  – Screening and test results
  – https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/

• End Homelessness Winnipeg
  – Aimed at sector serving homeless but lots of
    good general information too
  – https://endhomelessnesswinnipeg.ca/covid-19-resources-winnipegs-
    homeless-serving-sector/

Public Health Guidelines
• Reminder to continue to follow all health and
  safety practices
• Please:
   – Physically distance as much as possible
   – Stay home if you’re feeling sick (sore
     throat, cough, runny nose, fever etc.)
   – Continue to wash hands often
   – Wear a mask where required

Public Health Guidelines cont’d
• Practice cough hygiene
• Limit your social contacts
• Avoid non-essential travel

                           Source: Health Canada

COVID TESTING
• Currently, anyone with symptoms (even if
  only very mild) is eligible for testing
• Testing sites vary by region and include
  testing centres, doctor’s clinics, drive-thru
  sites, mobile sites, walk-in sites
• Walk-in and by appointment available
• Check online for all locations:
  https://www.manitoba.ca/covid19/testing/locations.html

COVID Vaccines in Manitoba
• Largest immunization campaign in province history

                              Source: Government of Manitoba

COVID Vaccines in Manitoba
• Canada has agreements for 7 different
  vaccines
• Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines
  (mRNA vaccines)
• AstraZeneca Oxford (non-replicating
  ChAdenovirus vaccine)
• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (non-replicating
  Hu26Adenovirus vaccine) approved

COVID Vaccines Facts
• FACT: these vaccines are safe
• FACT: mRNA CANNOT alter one’s own DNA
• FACT: you CANNOT get COVID-19 from the vaccines
• FACT: these vaccines DO NOT protect you from other
  bacteria or viruses
• FACT: the vaccines are free for everyone in Manitoba
• FACT: 2 doses are required (except J&J)
     BOTTOM LINE these vaccines work and are safe!

COVID Vaccines
• Like all vaccines it stimulates an immune
  response to a unique part of the virus
• This create antibodies which can recognize and
  target the virus if exposed to the virus in the
  future
• Prevents getting infected by COVID-19 virus
• Prevents severe disease outcomes if infection
  does occur
• Effectiveness against known variants

COVID Vaccines
• Ongoing areas for more information:
   – Prevention of transmission (spreading disease to others) after
     vaccination is less clear, vaccination may reduce infectiousness
   – Determining effectiveness in children was not priority in early
     trials so only adults were included; more work is being done in
     this area of research
   – Timing or need for future booster doses not yet determined

COVID Vaccine Eligibility
• Eligibility and vaccine sites are changing often!
• All willing adults should be able to receive the
  vaccine once eligible
• Check eligibility updates here:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibil
ity-criteria.html

COVID Vaccine Eligibility
• Those who are pregnant/breastfeeding,
  immune-suppressed ARE ELIGIBLE and
  should speak with their doctor first
• More information:
  – Pregnant/breast-feeding:
   https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/covidvaccine/covid19_vaccine_pregnant.pdf

  – Immune suppressed/auto-immune disease:
   https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/covidvaccine/immunisuppressed-
   autoimmune-vaccine-factsheet.pdf

COVID Vaccine Eligibility
• Proposed eligibility timeline

                     WE ARE HERE

COVID Vaccine Eligibility

• Eligibility calculator:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/qu
eue-calculator.html

COVID Vaccine Eligibility
• Super sites & Pop-up clinics
• Priority groups already being vaccinated
  include (updated regularly):
  – Select healthcare workers
  – Community services workers in certain settings
  – Priority First Nation groups (aged 45 and above)
  – Persons aged 65 and above

COVID Vaccine Eligibility
• Medical clinics and Pharmacies:
• Priority groups already being vaccinated (as
  further supply arrives will be updated):
  – Manitobans aged 50 to 64 years / First Nations
    people aged 30 to 64
  – AND with a high-risk chronic condition as listed
    https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/eligibility-criteria.html

COVID Vaccine Sites
• MB Vaccine Shot Finder
 https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/finder.html

• Currently Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk,
  Thompson, Morden super sites
• Pop-up clinics in rural/northern MB

What to Expect
• Common short-term side effects
• ~25-60% of people experience mild side
  effects including:
   – Pain at injection site
  – Low grade fever
  – Sore muscles
  – Fatigue
  – Headache

Rare Side Effects
• Rare serious side effect of allergic reaction
• All are instructed to stay for 15 minutes after
  immunization for observation (or 30 min if existing
  allergies)
• What to look for:
   – itchy rash (‘hives’),
   – swelling of the face, tongue or lips
   – difficulty breathing
   – Or report other symptoms if feeling unwell

Rare Side Effects
• Those who have had severe/anaphylactic allergic
  reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine will be advised to
  NOT receive another dose
• Those with previous allergic reaction to other
  vaccine/medication can still have the COVID-19
  vaccine, discuss with your doctor first if you have
  concerns

Before Receiving the Vaccine
• Everyone who is immunized must complete the
  consent form
   – Whenever possible, please print and complete it before
     your appointment
   – You can help others complete their consent form too!
   https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/resources.html
• *Those who have just received a dose of any other
  vaccine(s) should wait >14 days before receiving a
  COVID-19 vaccine

After Receiving the Vaccine
• Please continue to:
   – Physically distance
   – Limit social contacts
   – Stay home if sick
   – Practice hand and cough hygiene
   – Wear a mask where required
   – Limit travel
• *Wait 28 days after you receive the second dose of
  the COVID-19 before receiving any other vaccines

Which Vaccine Should You Get?
• If you are eligible to be immunized, the answer is
  simple: The first vaccine available to you
• Locations where you can get vaccines will expand;
  more types of vaccines will be available over time
• But this is key: All vaccines approved for use are
  effective in preventing you from getting COVID-19,
  and in reducing the seriousness of your illness
• Being immunized with one type of vaccine now will
  not prevent you from getting another type in the
  future if regular booster doses are needed

Health Links
• 24/7 - 365 days per year
• Team of registered nurses triage health
  questions/concerns and give general
  health advice over the phone
• Available in English and French, with
  100+ languages available through over-
  the-phone interpreters
• 204-788-8200 • 1-888-315-9257

Questions?