Second dose appointments for some COVID-19 vaccines will open Friday in Manitoba, but those who received the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab will have to wait a little longer. Evidence suggests waiting a minimum of three months before getting a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine maximizes the immune protection, Dr. Joss Reimer said Wednesday. However, in some cases, doctors or pharmacists may administer second doses of AstraZeneca when circumstances suggest a patient would benefit from an earlier shot. The next wave of second dose appointments will be allocated to the first people who got vaccinated without getting a second shot. Manitoba will also soon begin posting vaccine uptake rates online with breakdowns by regional health authority, sex, and first and second doses, she said.

Source: CBC News May 19, 2021 15:14 UTC