MIA's COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Clinic - Wednesday, November 23rd (Walk-ins welcome from 1-3 pm)

Many Inuit households have appointments to get their COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines and there is room for more people!

If your Inuit household has not signed up yet -- no problem!  Just come between 1 and 3 pm on November 23rd, for your COVID-19 or flu shot (or both!). No appointment necessary. See details below.

Clinic Details

• Clinic date: November 23rd
  • Walk-ins welcome from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
  • Appointments from 9 am to 2:30 pm. (All Inuit households who registered by November 20th have set appointment times.)
• Where: MIA Offices at 1000 Notre Dame
• Who: All Inuit and their household members, aged six months and up
• What:
  • COVID-19 vaccines (specific type by age, recommended by Manitoba Health)
  • Influenza vaccine (can be combined with COVID 19 vaccine for ages 18+)

Why get another COVID-19 vaccine now?

New variants of the COVID-19 are reinfecting many Manitobans. Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines will help you and your household members avoid serious illness.

As the winter holiday approaches, keeping you and your extended family and household members safe is a priority.

Do I have to wait 6 months between vaccines?

If anyone in your household is at higher risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19, or are planning on traveling over the holidays to remote communities, you may be eligible for your next vaccine sooner.

If you had COVID-19 recently, the Province recommends waiting six months before your next vaccine. Again, people who are at higher risk of serious symptoms from COVID-19 may be eligible to access the vaccine sooner.

Which vaccines are available at the MIA clinic?

• Vaccines for all ages are available at the MIA clinic, as recommended by the Province:        
• Moderna vaccine primary series (6 months to 4 years)
• Pediatric Pfizer vaccine (for 5 - 11 years)
• New Pfizer bivalent vaccine (for 12+ years)
• Influenza (Flu) vaccine (for everyone aged 6 months plus) *Only those 18+ are eligible for a flu shot at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. People under 18 can get a COVID-19 vaccine OR a flu shot, but not both at the same time.

Why get vaccinated at MIA?

One stop, Inuit-led vaccine clinic for the entire family designed to meet Inuit family needs for both COVID-19 and Influenze (Flu) vaccines. Featuring:

• culturally appropriate space
• for all family members including Inuit and non-Inuit
• easy parking and bus access
• child care services
• transportation assistance
• clinic runs from 9 am to 3 pm (you can request the time that works best for your family during the day)
• experienced Inuit management and staff arranging and supporting the clinic
• delivered in partnership with the Province of Manitoba nursing staff.

COVID-19 vaccine details at MIA clinic, fall 2022

MIA will have the latest COVID-19 vaccines recommended by the Province of Mantioba, available for all age groups at our upcoming clinic.

Never had a COVID-19 vaccine?

All Manitobans aged 6 months and over are encouraged to get their primary series of vaccines (1st and 2nd doses) 8 weeks apart. Anyone who has not received their primary series vaccines is eligible to attend the MIA clinic. If you had your very first dose 8 weeks or more, you are eligble for your 2nd dose.

Prior COVID-19 Infections - wait 6 months

For all age groups, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, the Province recommends you wait 6 months before you get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are at higher risk, you may be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine after only 3 months. You must be recovered from COVID-19 to receive a vaccine.

Adults 18+:  New Pfizer bivalent vaccine booster 

For adults over 18 who have received a booster shot 6 months ago, the Province recommends you get a bivalent booster shot, which protects against the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron variant. If you are at higher risk, you may be eligible to get the bivalent vaccine sooner.

Adolescents 12-17: New Pfizer bivalent vaccine booster

The Province recommends youth aged 12-17 get the Pfizer bivalent booster shot this fall, which protects against the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron variant. They also recommend you wait 6 months since getting your last vaccine. If you are at higher risk, you may be eligible to get the vaccine sooner.

Youth 5-11: Fall pediatric Pfizer booster

The Province recommends youth aged 5-11 get a booster shot this fall, at least 6 months after finishing their primary series (first dose and second doses).  Only 1 booster dose is available for this age group. No bivalent is available for this age group.

Youth 6 months to 4 years: Moderna vaccine primary series

All children in this age group are eligible to receive a primary COVID-19 vaccine series of Moderna vaccine. A primary series consists of two doses. Booster doses are not available for this age group.

Influenza vaccine (Flu Shot) details at MIA clinic

All Manitobans over 6 months of age are eligible for the seasonal flu shot, which will be avaiulable to those attending the MIA clinic if they choose.

Adults 18+: The Province recommends adults get the seasonal flu shot at the MIA clinic at the same time as getting the bivalent vaccine.

6 months -17 years: The Province recommends that youth should not get the seasonal flu shot at the same time as a COVID vaccine. If youth are not getting a COVID vaccine at the MIA clinic, they can get a flu vaccine.

Need a Manitoba Health Card or to update your address?

To register for a Manitoba Health Card, or to update your address:

Online: www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/mbcard.html

By Phone:

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Is the Vaccine Right for You?
Learn more about COVID-19 Vaccines

Many governments, Indigenous, and Inuit organizations have developed materials to help you make a decision about the vaccine. We have listed many useful resources for you to conduct your own research here.

It is YOUR choice. Please get informed about the vaccine.

Manitoba

• Updated Manitoba Government Question and Answer on Vaccines, including information on the new bivalent vaccine.Visit https://protectmb.ca/qa
• Learn more about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, also known as mRNA vaccines, provided in both English and Inuktitut!
  • Manitoba Government mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Public Health Factsheet: ENGLISH
  • Manitoba Government mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Public Health Factsheet: INUKITUT

Inuvialuit Settlement Region

• Department of Health and Social Services, GNWT, provides the latest information on COVID-19 for Inuvialuit. https://www.nthssa.ca/en/services/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-updates/covid-vaccine

Nunavut

• Government of Nunavut announces Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine available to Nunavummiut 18 and over, October 11 2022, https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/news/bivalent-covid-19-vaccine-available-nunavummiut-18-and-over
• Government of Nunavut COVID-19 general information on vaccines https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/covid-19-vaccination
• Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. COVID-19 Information https://covid19.tunngavik.com/about-covid-19/

Nunavik

• Kativik Regional Board of Helath and Social Services provides information on vaccine campaigns in Nunavik. http://nrbhss.ca/en/coronavirus

Nunatsiavut

• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador lists COVID 19 vaccination information for all regions, including Labrador-Grenfell region serving Nunatsiavut. https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/vaccine/gettheshot/

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

ICC provides information on how COVID-19 is affecting the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples from an international perspective. There are links to to many Inuit organizations, and ICC encourages people to seek information about COVID in their community and region from their local health authorities. https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/covid-19/

Respecting Inuit Culture of Inclusion

Respecting Elders: Inuit Elders are at greater risk of severe outcomes from contracting COVID-19. No matter where older Inuit live in Manitoba, we all wish to ensure our Elders have early access to the vaccine if they choose to be vaccinated. Our Elders hold the key to Inuit culture and knowledge and we must prioritize them in accessing the vaccine.

Inuit household inclusion: A key part of being an Inuk living in Manitoba is recognizing that our families often include non-Inuit. We are proud of our inclusive families -- where we take care of each other no matter if we are Inuit or non-Inuit.

Inuit Societal Values (ISV) inform our approach to advocating for, and planning for access to vaccines for Inuit in Manitoba, specifically:

• Inuuqatigiitsiarniq: Respecting others, relationships and caring for people.
• Tunnganarniq: Fostering good spirits by being open, welcoming and inclusive.
• Pijitsirniq: Serving and providing for family and/or community.