Novel Coronavirus COVID-19
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility, Vaccine Schedule and Proof of Vaccination


For information on where to find a vaccine provider please refer to the Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Map.

 

On this page:

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility

 

The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are now available in Manitoba.

Immunization with the most updated COVID-19 vaccine is strongly recommended for previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease:

  • Adults 65 years of age or older
  • Those 6 months of age and older who are:
    1. Residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings
    2. Individuals with underlying medical conditions that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19, including children with complex health needs
    3. Individuals who are pregnant
    4. Individuals in or from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
    5. Members of racialized and other equity-deserving communities
    6. People who provide essential community services

All other previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (6 months of age and older) who are not at increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease (i.e., not on the list above) may receive the most recently updated vaccine.

For more information on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations, please refer to Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines during the fall of 2024 - Canada.ca.

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule

 

Schedule for previously vaccinated individuals

For those previously vaccinated against COVID-19, all individuals aged 6 months and older are eligible to receive one dose of the updated formulation of COVID-19 vaccine.

Since COVID-19 vaccines have not been broadly available since May 1 2024, the majority of Manitobans will be eligible to receive the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available, with the recommended interval of at least 6 months between doses.

Those most at risk of severe disease who received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the spring or later, will require a minimum interval of 3 months between the previous dose and the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine.

Please note there may be a decreased immune response to the vaccine when provided sooner than the recommended 6-month period.


Schedule for unvaccinated individuals

 

Age Group

  Number of doses

  Recommended Interval

Not immunocompromised

6 months to less than 5 years of age

 2 8 weeks apart

5 to 11 years of age

 1 N/A

12 years of age and over

 1 N/A

*Moderately to severely immunocompromised

6 months of age and older

3

4-8 weeks apart

 

 

*For the purposes of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, the following individuals are considered moderately to severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition and/or treatment:

  • are receiving active chemotherapy (or immunotherapy) for cancer;
  • have received a solid organ transplant and are currently receiving chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapy;
  • were born with moderate or severe dysfunction of their immune system;
  • are living with untreated or advanced HIV-AIDS; or
  • are taking certain medications that severely affect the immune system.
  • The following people should talk to their doctor to see whether they are considered to be immunocompromised:
      1. receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis;
      2. are on the list to receive a solid organ transplant; or
      3. have a ventricular assist device (VAD).

 

Immunization after a COVID-19 infection

If you've recently had a positive COVID-19 test result, the chance of getting COVID-19 again is low in the months after infection. You can wait up to 3 to 6 months for your next vaccine dose. The immune response is better when there is more time between infection and vaccination.

When to get the vaccine if you were sick but did not get a COVID-19 test?

You can receive the vaccine if you have a mild illness and you did not get a COVID-19 test. Without a confirmed COVID-19 test result, it's better to get immunized now rather than waiting 3 to 6 months to receive the vaccine. Anyone with a high fever should postpone getting the vaccine until recovered.

Recommendations may be different if you are moderately to severely immunocompromised or not previously vaccinated. Please speak to your health care provider to get the best advice on when to get your next vaccine dose after a COVID-19 infection.

 

Canadian Proof of Vaccination Credential (PVC)

The Canadian COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Credential (PVC) is a secure and reliable way to show your proof of COVID-19 vaccination history when you travel outside of Canada. It's meant to simplify and help with border processing abroad. It is important to confirm the immunization requirements for your travel destination and any stops along the way before departing to confirm what type of proof is accepted.

Protecting your Privacy

The only medical information contained in this document is related to your COVID-19 vaccination history. The PVC, and associated QR code, contains your name, date of birth, date of immunization, brand of vaccine received and lot number, if available. The PVC doesn't contain your health card number, so it can't be used to access other health information or for other health services.

Request Your PVC

You can request your PVC online at immunizationcard.manitoba.ca or through the Manitoba Immunization Card app available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. You can also call the province's call centre at 1 844 MAN VACC (1 844 626 8222) for more information about the process.

The PVC is available digitally on your smart phone/device or you can select to receive it by email and you can then print a hard copy of the PDF. If you would like to have your PVC available on multiple devices, you must request the PVC on each individual device. The app only stores the information for your PVC while you are logged in. Once logged out, the app will erase your PVC. You will have to request it again the next time you log in. You can keep a digital copy of your proof of vaccination on any smart phone/device. It is NOT available as a wallet certificate at this time.

If you received a vaccine that is not approved by Health Canada it may still appear on the PVC but with limited information.

More information on the Government of Canada's PVC is available at canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/vaccines/vaccine-proof.html

If you are unable to access your PVC or have received immunization from outside of Manitoba and want to report them, please submit a request at https://forms.gov.mb.ca/immunization-update-request/ or call 1-844-626-8222.

 

Request Your Canadian Proof of Vaccination Credential (PVC)