WINNIPEG — The governments of Manitoba and North Dakota are aiming to ensure essential workers who have to cross the Canada-U.S. border are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are scheduled to announce an initiative on the issue later today.

Some essential workers, such as commercial truckers and health-care providers, are exempt from the requirement to quarantine for 14 days upon entering Canada.

Manitoba has ramped up its vaccination program this week.

Anyone 40 and over is now eligible for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is distributed through pharmacies and medical clinics.

For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the minimum age is 34 for First Nations people and 54 for others.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press