New Brunswick health officials say those who want a COVID-19 vaccine should be able to get at least their first dose by Canada Day.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard unveiled changes to the province’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan on Friday.
Shephard says restrictions due to COVID-19 may be eased in early summer when the province meets targets of everyone having their first dose.
“More vaccines are coming and this is good news for New Brunswick,” said Shepard.
Shepard said there is now information saying the second dose can be delayed by up to four months.
The next rollout of the vaccine will be offered to those 85 and older through appointments with pharmacies. Healthcare workers and health system staff will also have an opportunity to get vaccines through clinics.
First Nations communities will all get their first doses by March 19th. By the end of March, New Brunswick will have received up to 160,000 doses of the vaccines.
Next up for vaccines will be those aged 80 and older, first responders such as firefighters and police officers, people with complex medical conditions and those aged 75 and above. Workers who regularly travel across the border, including daily commuters, truckers and rotational workers, will also have the option of booking at pharmacies for a vaccine.
Shephard said more announcements will be made soon to inform people when they are able to book an appointment to receive their vaccine.
Meanwhile, the province’s chief medical officer of health said the first phase of vaccine rollout, which began in December, is expected to be complete by next Wednesday.
Dr. Jennifer Russell said all residents living in a nursing home or adult residential facility will receive at least one vaccine dose by that time.
Russell said since it takes at least 14 days for the vaccine to be fully effective, it’s important for residents to continue to wear masks and keep two metres apart.
More details about New Brunswick’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan are available on the province’s COVID-19 website.
One Additional Death, Three New Cases
Health officials announced that a person in their 40s in the Moncton health region (Zone 1) has passed away from underlying medical conditions, including COVID-19.
There have now been 30 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began.
There are three new confirmed cases in Zone 1. Two are contacts of a previous case related to travel and one is under investigation.
There are 33 active cases and one person is currently in the hospital.