Dear Families,

As we head into longer days with more sunlight and the thoughts of spring, Manitoba Health shared with Holy Family Home they are now offering a spring booster for the COVID -19 virus. As per the NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) recommendations the below individuals are eligible for boosters come spring as long as they are 3 months past vaccination or COVID-19 infection:

  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors
  • Individuals 6 months and age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment)

If we look at Holy Family Home over this flu season since our COVID and influenza campaign in October/November 2023, we have not had a COVID outbreak until last week since early fall 2023. Most of our COVID outbreaks over the last few years have been associated with an unvaccinated COVID-19 individual and at present, there are 18 RSV outbreaks and 9 COVID outbreaks in long-term care reported daily. Therefore, as you can see vaccination can make a difference for our residents here at Holy Family Home. With that being said, we will need families to consent to the spring COVID 19 booster in order for our residents to be eligible for vaccination. Starting later this week all units will have consents and fact sheets available for family members to view and sign on their loved ones behalf.

As per Manitoba Health, they confirmed the vaccine formulation would be the same XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine formulation used in the fall of 2023 for this spring campaign. Also, it is expected that the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign will be time-limited (e.g. offered in March and April only) to not effect eligibility for fall 2024 vaccinations. So Holy Family Home expects to begin vaccination by late March 2024 or early April 2024. We are asking families to complete the consents between now and March 15, 2024 if you wish your loved one to have a COVI19 spring booster.

See the links below for more information on the COVID 19 vaccine and the consent forms.

For information on the newest booster please read the fact sheet for the vaccine at:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/covidvaccine/mrna_vaccine_children5-and-over.pdf

The current COVID-19 vaccine consent form can be found here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/public-resources.html#consent-forms

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your nurse if you have any questions.

Thanks,                                                               

Stacey Morgan RNBN

Director of Care