The Manitoba government is partnering with community-led organizations to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake. 

Premier Brian Pallister.

Premier Brian Pallister announced Tuesday morning that this will help protect Manitobans and ensure the province reaches its vaccination targets as quickly as possible.

"Getting as many Manitobans vaccinated as quickly and safely as they can is key to ending this pandemic and getting our lives back," says Pallister. "Our community-hosted vaccination program will make it easier for people from all walks of life to get vaccinated in way that is comfortable and accessible to them."

The first 25 projects have been selected to receive more than $390,000 through the ProtectMB Community Outreach and Incentive Grant. This initiative provides support to sport, religious, arts, cultural and community organizations, businesses and schools to encourage vaccinations and uptake rates in communities with lower immunization rates.

Funded projects include:

- Steinbach Community Outreach, which works with local people who do not have phone or internet access, will host a BBQ in partnership with a local clinic, where medical professionals will provide information and answer questions about vaccination;
- Macdonald Youth Services, guided by its youth peer council, will co-ordinate outreach and education with the diverse youth it serves including Indigenous youth, youth aging out of care, those experiencing poverty and homelessness, LGBTQ2S+ youth, immigrant youth, and youth with mental health and addiction issues; and
- the Hindu Society of Manitoba will host a pop-up vaccination clinic at the Hindu Temple and Dr. Raj Pandey Hindu Centre on July 9, with funding to be used to promote vaccination, engage with community members and to connect people who are unsure or have questions about the vaccine with a health-care professional.

These initiatives will support the province's Community Partners for Vaccine Administration, which is supplying 20,000 vaccine doses for community-level administration. This will help overcome barriers to vaccine accessibility and facilitate vaccine uptake in community and business-hosted organizations, the premier noted.

The province has also established a system where community partners and congregate living facilities with suitable medical staff or existing capacity to administer immunizations can order vaccines and manage their own vaccine outreach efforts. This can include sites like correctional facilities, hospitals and personal care homes.

As mentioned, Manitoba's Vaccine Implementation Task Force is providing vaccine to community organizations, businesses and other partners to help get people immunized. In total, from late June to early August, these efforts will make nearly 20,000 vaccines available to people who might otherwise face barriers in being immunized.

These partners include:

West End Women’s Centre,
North End Women’s Centre,
New Directions,
Women of Colour Community Leadership,
New Flyer,
Elwick Village,
MacDon,
Red River College,
University of Winnipeg,
University of Manitoba,
Maples Collegiate,
Nigerian Association of Manitoba,
African Communities of Manitoba,
Punjab Cultural Centre,
West End Women’s Centre,
Spence Neighbourhood Association,
Bilal Community and Family Centre,
Winnipeg Grand Mosque,
Ethiopian Society of Winnipeg,
Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba,
Hindu Society of Manitoba,
Knox Church,
Amber Trails School,
Maples Collegiate,
Under One Roof,
McCain,
Hylife,
Westman Immigration,
Mafeking,
O-Chi-Chack,
ECHO Housing,
Maple Leaf Foods,
Sexuality Education Resource Centre,
Princess Park, and
clinic partners in Altona, Winkler, Vita, Steinbach, Carman, La Broquerie, Vita, St. Claude, Emerson, St. Malo, St. Pierre, St. Adolphe, Portage la Prairie, Austin, Steinbach, Manitou, Pilot Mound, and Miami.