Learn More About the COVID Vaccines

Vaccines are like an instruction manual for our body’s immune system—it shows what new disease to be on the lookout for, in this case, COVID-19.  

There has been a lot of misinformation spread about the COVID vaccine, and it’s important people get the facts. There are several things the COVID vaccine can’t do – it can’t give you COVID, and it can’t change your DNA. Also, the vaccine is not a type of gene therapy. What the COVID vaccine can do though is help produce antibodies, which can get our immune system ready to fight the virus. And this means the vaccine can save you from a trip to the hospital, from a lengthy and painful respirator experience, and it can save lives. Remember to get your information from credible sources. Visit the Q&A page to learn more.

Vaccines have been around for a long time and have been very well researched. The COVID-19 has been used in Manitoba since December 2020, and we already have very good evidence to show that the vaccine is protecting Manitobans, with the majority of Manitobans who end up in hospital with COVID being unvaccinated.

You might be wondering how the COVID-19 vaccines were made so quickly? Can a vaccine that was produced quickly still be safe? The answer is yes! It was a remarkable feat, one that should be celebrated. It just goes to show what is possible when our best and brightest have the resources to tackle a problem such as COVID-19. 

Doctors and scientists around the world have made sure these vaccines are safe. The vaccines went through the same intensive tests that all vaccines must undergo. Because funds were available to run tests concurrently vital time was saved. Only vaccines that are proven to be safe are approved to be used in Canada. No matter where you live, no matter what your walk of life, the COVID-19 vaccine is a life-saving tool–and that’s something we can all get behind. If you’re considering whether or not to get immunized it’s important to think about why the vaccine is so important:

• It protects you, from getting infected or from getting seriously ill.
• It also protects the people around you – your parents, your friends, your grandparents, the people you work with.
• Not everyone is healthy enough to fight off this infection – think of all the people who are counting on you to do your part to keep them safe.

Remember, if your body can fight off the COVID infection, you will reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others.
Hear from more people in Manitoba and their stories about why they’re being immunized.