Manitoba falls further behind the Canadian average in COVID-19 vaccinations, despite a social media campaign to convince people to get their third dose.
On April 10, 50.5% of Manitoban people age 12 and older had received at least three doses of the vaccine. This is 3.8 per cent lower than the Canadian average, which is 54.3%.
Only Alberta and Saskatchewan have lower vaccination rates than Manitoba.
Concerned by these numbers, the Ministry of Health launched a social media campaign in early May, titled Recharge your immunity.
The four-week campaign is to target people between the ages of 24 and 65. But since its launch, the gap between Manitoba and the Canadian average has widened.
On May 10, 51% of Manitobans aged 12 and older had received at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The Canadian average was then 55.2%.
Health Minister Audrey Gordon declined to comment on the difference.
Vaccination continues to be our best defense against serious COVID-19 infection, the minister’s office said. Manitoba Health recommends that you get vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster doses when you become eligible.
The number of deaths in the first four months of 2022 in Manitoba was higher than the number of deaths recorded for the same period last year.
Last week, virologist Jason Kindrachuk and epidemiologist Souradet Shaw believed that the weakening of immunity to COVID-19 may partially explain these data.
Manitoba Public Health does not make that connection.
According to public health, it is not yet clear what role poor safety plays in the worst cases of the Omicron variant leading to hospitalizations or deaths.
Booster doses are thought to work to restore immunity and protect people at greater risk due to age or medical condition, for some time after the vaccine is given.
The province’s chief medical officer, Brent Roussin, is expected to provide an update on the vaccination later this week.
With information from Bartley Kives
Source: Radio-Canada
