Manitoba has achieved its second holiday vaccine milestone of the ‘4-3-2-One Great Summer’ reopening path nearly a month ahead of schedule, meaning more than 75 per cent of eligible Manitobans have received at least one dose and more than 50 per cent of people have received both vaccine doses, Premier Brian Pallister announced today, noting provincewide efforts to tackle vaccine hesitancy and encourage Manitobans to roll up their sleeves continue.

“Once again Manitobans have responded in record numbers to do their part to roll up their sleeve and get vaccinated,” said Pallister. “As we look forward to regaining more of our freedoms this summer as more and more Manitobans get fully vaccinated, the race against COVID is not over yet. We all have a part to play, and to anyone who still needs their first or second dose, I want you to know that we still need you in this monumental, provincewide effort.”

Public health officials have recommended that at least one incubation period should pass between changing public health orders. As a result, the premier noted new public health orders are expected next week to reflect the immunization milestones achieved, and the state of COVID-19 in Manitoba at that time.

To help reduce barriers and support even more Manitobans to get their first or second dose of the vaccine, every super site in the province will be offering only walk-ins on Wednesday, July 14. More than 20,000 vaccines will be available including approximately 8,000 Pfizer vaccines earmarked for young people aged 12 to 17. There will be Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available at every super site.

“Our government has spared no effort to bolster vaccine availability and accessibility, and to give Manitobans the information and support they need to roll up their sleeve – not once, but twice – and get fully vaccinated,” said Pallister. “We are close to achieving all of our vaccination milestones earlier than we could have imagined. Now we just need that extra effort by every Manitoban not yet vaccinated to roll up your sleeve and push us across the finish line so we can safely, fully reopen.”

The province continues to show strong immunization numbers, as compared to other Canadian jurisdictions. Per capita, Manitoba continues to be first in the country in the total number of doses administered and percentage of eligible people aged 12 or older who are immunized at 129,111 per 100,000 and 51.1 per cent, respectively.

Additionally, the Essential Worker Cross-Border Vaccination Initiative has reached a new milestone, with more than 2,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given to Manitoba truck drivers in North Dakota, Premier Brian Pallister and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced today.

“Thanks to the generosity of our southern neighbours in North Dakota, we’ve been able to boost Manitoba’s vaccination efforts and protect truck drivers who are working tirelessly through the pandemic to deliver essential goods and services to Manitobans and across the border,” said Pallister. “Based on demand from Manitobans passing through North Dakota on their delivery routes, the successful partnership is extended through July and this strong cross-border co-operation will continue to benefit both our communities and our economies.”

“The success of this first-of-its-kind program between North Dakota and Manitoba is a testament to our strong commitment to protecting public health and providing safe, effective vaccines to those essential workers who transport goods and services across our border,” Burgum said. “By extending the program through July, we can continue to protect the health of our citizens and our economies as we move closer to the reopening of our shared border.”

The first clinic opened April 21 at a northbound rest area on Interstate 29 (I-29) near Drayton, N.D. To date, 2,523 doses have been administered to Manitoba truck drivers in North Dakota, with 1,719 receiving a first dose and 804 receiving a second dose.

The North Dakota Department of Health has extended the Drayton pop-up vaccination clinic through the month of July to accommodate Canadian traffic. The department noted an average of 45 to 50 Canadians are vaccinated each day at that site. It has also arranged a weekend pop-up site at the GasTrak off I-29 in Pembina, N.D.

Manitoban truck drivers are currently able to get vaccinated at two clinics in North Dakota:

- GasTrak at 700 W Stutsman St. in Pembina every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m.; and
- Drayton rest area on I-29 near Drayton every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m.

These locations and hours will be effective through July.