Penner is one of several southern Manitoba religious leaders working with provincial vaccine task force officials to spur uptake in areas with lower rates, including in Mennonite communities. Rates in Steinbach climbed about five per cent in the past seven days, according to the provincial data. Dr. Joss Reimer, the Manitoba vaccine task force's medical lead, said this week that the vast majority of people in low-uptake communities who remain reluctant aren't necessarily anti-vaccine. WATCH | Low confidence in COVID-19 shots (June 2):Most hesitant in southern Manitoba not anti-vaccine — they just don't yet have confidence in COVID-19 shot: Reimer. 1:18An expert in how faith and religion can influence vaccine hesitancy says it's important to acknowledge people hold off on immunization for a variety of reasons.

Source: CBC News June 05, 2021 10:52 UTC