Manitoba's top doctor says they should soon be able to release details on what the return to class could look like this fall for students.

Last week, vaccine officials in Manitoba put out a reminder that in order for people aged 12 to 17 to be fully immunized for their return to school in fall, they would need to receive their first dose by July 27th.

"We don't have plans to have a mandatory vaccination for schools," assures Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin.

According to Dr. Roussin, during this pandemic, the province's position has always been that schools would be the last to close and the first to open, with respect to restrictions.

"Our goal is really to get the kids back to school as normal as possible, this fall," he adds.

Though Dr. Roussin could not be more specific on Monday, he suggests there will be more information coming out in about a week or so.

Dr. Roussin says the younger children are much less likely to have severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is also the segment of the population that is less likely to transmit the virus.

"What we need is people at home to be fully vaccinated, so if the virus is brought home it's brought home to a family that's fully vaccinated with everyone eligible there," he notes. "Within the school, if we have eligible students vaccinated we're going to see much less transmission occurring in those areas."