The province of Manitoba is planning to ramp up its vaccine capacity to deliver 20,000 doses per day in the second quarter of 2021.
During a technical briefing on Wednesday, Johanu Botha, the co-lead of Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force, said the province is preparing to bolster its vaccine rollout. Botha said the province is expecting to have a “significant increase” in vaccine supply.
He said the province is getting ready to be able to deliver 1.5 million doses in the second quarter.
Botha said this is a shift from the 100,000 doses expected to be delivered in the first quarter. To achieve the 1.5 million doses, capacity will be increased to administer doses to 20,000 people each day.
Manitoba’s current daily maximum vaccination capacity is at 7,097.
The province said based on the current projections, there will be an estimated 1,183 injections delivered per day in February.
According to the province, Manitoba ranks second in the province for total population immunized. Prince Edward Island currently holds the top spot.
In preparation for the vaccine ramp up, Botha said the province plans to create nine more COVID-19 vaccination supersites, in addition to the sites already operating in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.