The change goes into effect at 11:45 a.m. April 3. “All Indigenous people are now able to make appointments at any super site, pop-up clinic or urban Indigenous vaccine clinic,” said provincial health minister Heather Stefanson in a press release. “This will help people across the province access the vaccine and reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 or having any serious outcomes, protecting themselves and their communities.” According to the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), between 12,000 and 13,000 Indigenous people have tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic - just under a third of all of Manitoba's reported COVID-19 cases. First Nations Pandemic Response Coordination Team public health lead Dr. Marcia Anderson also said Monday that Indigenous people have required admission to intensive care units due to COVID-19 at high rates.