The provincial government released its updated COVID-19 vaccination plan for New Brunswick on Thursday, February 18, 2021. Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said the new plan will now allow for a longer delay between the first and second doses beyond the recommended 28 days for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. This new approach will allow a greater number of New Brunswickers to be protected from the virus more quickly.

“We will delay the second dose for those who are at lower risk of severe outcomes, while giving the two-dose schedule on time for the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Russell. “Everyone will get the second dose. This decision is supported by research, as we have learned that a single dose of these vaccines offers more than 90 per cent protection, starting 14 days after inoculation. While we may delay the second dose, our objective will be to administer it as soon as we can, while keeping to our goal of maximizing the number of vulnerable people receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.”

“We remain committed to ensuring all New Brunswickers who want the vaccine will be able to access it as quickly as possible,” said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “Our vaccine plan will allow us to accomplish this goal.”

The province’s COVID-19 vaccination plan began in December and has been focused in Phase 1 on immunizing those who are most vulnerable, including long-term care residents and staff, frontline health-care staff, First Nations adults, and individuals 85 and over. To date, 7,505 people have been fully vaccinated and more than 21,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered

“This plan protects the health and wellness of New Brunswickers and also minimizes the impact of outbreaks in institutions like long-term care facilities and hospitals,” said Russell.

Phase 2 of New Brunswick's COVID-19 vaccination plan will begi in April and will expand vaccinations to additional vulnerable groups, including: residents and staff in other communal settings; health-care workers providing direct patient care such as pharmacists and dentists; first responders such as firefighters and police officers; home support workers for seniors; individuals 70 and over; individuals with select complex medical conditions; volunteers at long-term care centres and designated support people; individuals 40 and over with three or more select chronic conditions; and truckers, rotational workers and regular cross-border work commuters.

“We are confident this plan is the best way to ensure vulnerable residents are protected in a timely manner, while also addressing delays in vaccine shipments,” said Shephard. “If more vaccine doses are made available to us by the federal government, we will readjust our vaccination plan.”

Phase 3, which will begin in June, will expand to groups including: health-care workers with indirect patient care; people with two or more select chronic health conditions; school staff; and students between the ages of 16 and 24. 

In Phase 4, which is planned to begin in July, the vaccine will be more widely available for all New Brunswickers.