New Brunswick releases updated vaccine rollout plan

The New Brunswick government released an updated COVID-19 vaccination plan on Friday, March 12, 2021, at a press conference in Fredericton with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell and Minister of Health Dorothy Shephard. Dr. Russell opened the press conference by announcing that all New Brunswickers will have the chance to have at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before Canada Day.

“With an ever-increasing supply of vaccines and new scientific evidence supporting a delay of up to 120 days in administering the vaccine’s second dose, we will be able to complete the work of inoculating all New Brunswickers much more quickly than initially expected,” said Dr. Russell. “This is good news.  The more people who are immunized, the quicker we will be able to achieve a level of protection in the population.”

Minister Shephard said that revised vaccination plan now provides a timeline detailing when all New Brunswickers are eligible to receive the first dose of the vaccine. By the end of March, truck drivers, regular cross-border commuters and rotational workers will also be eligible to be vaccinated.

“We promised to address the burden placed on rotational workers and their families by the virus and we have been able to do so by moving this group up sooner in the updated vaccine rollout plan,” Minister Shephard said. “Our goal is to be able to ease restrictions as soon as we can on their need to self-isolate. We will share more information on this as it becomes available.”

New Brunswickers who are 85 and older may now book an appointment for their first dose of the vaccine by contacting a pharmacy. A family member or caretaker may also book an appointment on their behalf. 218 pharmacies in the province, which includes almost every New Brunswick pharmacy, are participating in the vaccination rollout. Pharmacists will begin administering vaccines to this group beginning next week on Wednesday, March 17. After everyone 85 and older has had the opportunity to receive their first dose, those who are 80 and older will be able to begin booking appointments, followed by those who are 75 and older, and so on.

“I appreciate that many New Brunswickers want to be vaccinated and I understand that everyone wants to know when their turn will arrive,” Shephard said. “Please continue to be patient and wait for your group to be identified. Do not contact your pharmacist until we announce that your group is eligible.”