New Brunswick government updates its COVID-19 vaccination plan

At a press conference in Fredericton on Thursday, April 8, 2021, New Brunswick Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced that vaccination clinics will no longer be organized for large employers and home care workers as previously planned. Instead, people in these groups will be vaccinated once their age group becomes eligible.

“Focusing on age-based eligibility will maximize efficiency and allow us to react to changing supply chains as we work to vaccinate New Brunswickers quickly and efficiently with the vaccines available to us,” said Shephard. “We must be able to make adjustments to our vaccination rollout plan based on updated guidance and the supply of vaccine that is available.”

New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced that rotational workers, truck drivers and regular cross-border commuters may now schedule an appointment to receive their first dose of the vaccine through a regional health authority clinic by contacting with Vitalité Health Network or Horizon Health Network clinic online or by calling 1-833-437-1424. They can also book an
appointment by contacting a pharmacy.

“We are continuing to work hard to achieve our objective of providing the first dose of the vaccine to every New Brunswicker before Canada Day,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health.

“Our vaccination campaign has accelerated significantly over the past month, and we are making great progress despite occasional supply issues and other setbacks.”

The vaccine rollout continues to be a race against the spread of the variant, particularly in Zone 4, the Edmundston region. 

“We are seeing record numbers of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital, which is putting renewed strain on our health-care system,” Russell said. “The Edmundston Regional Hospital has reached capacity for COVID cases, and some admissions are being diverted to other health zones. My thoughts are with the people in this region, and I thank them for continuing to follow public health guidance during this difficult time.”