New Brunswick has missed its COVID-19 vaccination target in order to start the first phase of its reopening plan, the province’s chief medical officer of health announced Monday afternoon.
Dr. Jennifer Russell said 70.3 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received at least one dose of the vaccine, shy of the 75 per cent threshold needed to enter the first phase of its “Path to Green,” a three-phase plan to reopen the province and remove all remaining COVID-19 restrictions.
“Unless we achieve this minimum level of vaccination, loosening restrictions could lead to another wave of infections and serious illness that would overwhelm our health-care system,” Russell said.
“Close may count in horseshoes, but not in pandemics.”
Russell said people in their teens, 20s and 30s have the lowest vaccination rates by group, though she acknowledged that they have had less time to book their vaccines than older age groups.
She urged all New Brunswickers, especially younger people, to get their shot.
“When you get vaccinated, opportunities will open up that you have not had in more than a year,” she said.
“Spending time this summer hanging out with friends, at the beach or at the camp and having bonfires and barbecues, that can happen. We can get to this as soon as enough of us are vaccinated.”
Russell said she’s “confident” New Brunswickers will be able to reach the 75 per cent target in the coming days.
The first phase of the reopening plan includes removing isolation and testing requirements for cross-border commuters and people entering New Brunswick from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador or the Témiscouata, Que., region. Compassionate travel will be allowed between those regions with testing.
Second doses
The province’s second phase of the reopening plan, which is planned for July 1, is dependent on 20 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 65 and older receiving their second dose.
Russell said beginning Monday, anyone who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine prior to April 1 can now book an appointment for their second dose online or through a participating pharmacy.
Those who got their first shot at a pharmacy may have been given a second appointment already, or may be contacted. Russell said people should check the pharmacy’s website or social media before calling.
Those who registered online through one of the two provincial health networks will get an email reminder to book an appointment for their second shot.
On June 14, said Russell, people who got their vaccine during the month of April will be able to book their appointment for the second dose. And on June 21, eligibility to expand to anyone who is 28 days past getting their first dose.
The third phase of the reopening plan, slated for Aug. 2, will come into effect as long as 75 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and up have received their second dose of the vaccine.
An ‘ambitious’ goal
Premier Blaine Higgs, who was also at Monday’s briefing, said this delay likely won’t have an impact on the future target dates for the next two phases of the reopening plan.
“When we announced our ‘Path to Green,’ we set ambitious goals for each phase. Ambitious, but certainly possible,” he said.
“We did this because we’re optimistic about the future and New Brunswick’s potential.”
He said June 7 was the “earliest possible date” where 75 per cent of the eligible population could be vaccinated. Even though they fell short, he said he was pleased with the effort.
“While we have not reached 75 per cent, we have made great strides towards reaching this goal,” he said.
He said the province is vaccinating about one per cent of the eligible population each day, so he expects to reach the target in the next four or five days.
1 new case
The province also announced one new case of COVID-19 on Monday.
The new case is a resident of Zone 3, or the Fredericton region, and is the close contact of another case.
There are now 111 active cases, including three isolating out-of-province.
Four people are in hospital, including two in intensive care. One New Brunswicker is being hospitalized outside of the province.