News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government announced today that third doses of mRNA vaccines will now be offered to certain groups of immunocompromised people.

“These immunocompromised individuals may have a reduced immune response to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health. “An additional dose provides an opportunity for these individuals to develop a better immune response, which could offer better protection.”

Effective today, third doses will be available to people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition or treatment.

People aged 12 and over with at least one of the conditions or treatments listed below are eligible to register online for a third vaccination through a regional health authority clinic or participating pharmacy. These individuals will be asked to sign a statement attesting that they meet the eligibility criteria.

The recommended interval for a third dose of mRNA vaccine for immunocompromised people is at least four weeks after their second dose.

A complete list of medical conditions and treatments that would result in a person being recommended to receive a third dose is available online.

The list includes people who:

• Are receiving active chemotherapy (or immune therapy) for cancer.

• Have received a solid organ transplant and are currently receiving chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapy.

• Were born with moderate or severe dysfunction of their immune system.

• Are living with untreated or advanced HIV infection or AIDS.

• Are taking certain medications that severely affect the immune system.

• Have chronic conditions associated with varying degrees of immune deficit, such as asplenia and chronic renal disease with dialysis.

Confirmed cases in schools and child-care facilities

Positive cases have been confirmed in schools and child-care facilities in zones 1 (Moncton region) and 4 (Edmundston region).

The respective school or child-care communities have been notified. If you or a family member have been in close contact with a case, you will be notified by Public Health or by the school or facility for contact tracing. If you are not notified directly, you have not been identified as a close contact.

As per New Brunswick’s Healthy and Safe Schools guidelines, schools with cases will close or move to online learning for at least one calendar day to support contact tracing, risk assessments and operational responses. Districts have contacted families directly with specific information regarding any impact on learning, including information on home learning, if required.

Zone 1 (Moncton region) – A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at each of the following schools: École Sainte-Thérèse and École Anna-Malenfant, both in Dieppe. New cases have been confirmed at the following previously impacted schools: École Saint-Henri in Moncton, Port Elgin School and Tantramar Regional High School in Sackville. A positive case has also been confirmed at each of the following child-care facilities: Centre éducatif Le Platinum in Dieppe and Wiggles & Giggles Early Learning Center in Sackville.

Zone 4 (Edmundston region) – A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at each of the following child-care facilities: Garderie Au Royaume En Chant "T" in Kedgwick; Garderie centre éducatif les petits pas; and Garderie centre éducatif les petits pas 2, both in Saint-Quentin.

39 of 52 new cases not fully vaccinated

Public Health reported 35 recoveries and 52 new cases today. Thirty-nine, or 75 per cent, of these 52 cases are not fully vaccinated.

There are 27 people hospitalized due to the virus, with 12 in an intensive care unit. The number of active cases is 574.

The 17 new cases in Zone 1 (Moncton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;

• two people 20-29;

• four people 30-39;

• a person 40-49;

• three people 50-59;

• two people 60-69; and

• a person 80-89.

Ten cases are under investigation and seven are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The five new cases in Zone 2 (Saint John region) are as follows:

• a person 20-29;

• a person 30-39;

• two people 50-59; and

• a person 70-79.

All five cases are under investigation.

The 11 new cases in Zone 3 (Fredericton region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under;

• a person 20-29;

• a person 30-39;

• four people 40-49;

• two people 50-59;

• a person 60-69; and

• a person 80-89.

Seven cases are under investigation and four are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

The seven new cases in Zone 4 (Edmundston region) are as follows:

• three people 19 and under;

• two people 20-29;

• a person 40-49; and

• a person 60-69.

Five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two are under investigation.

The seven new cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton region) are as follows:

• four people 19 and under;

• a person 20-29;

• a person 40-49; and

• a person 50-59.

Five cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases and two are under investigation.

The three new cases in Zone 6 (Bathurst region) are as follows:

• a person 19 and under; and

• two people 20-29.

All three are under investigation.

The two new cases in Zone 7 (Miramichi region) are as follows:

• a person 20-29; and

• a person 30-39.

Both cases are under investigation.

Additional information is available on the COVID-19 dashboard.

Vaccination update

Public Health reported today that 78.4 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 87.1 per cent have received their first dose of a vaccine.

If you have not yet had your first or second dose, you are asked to go to a walk-in clinic or book an appointment through a participating pharmacy or at a Vitalité or Horizon health network clinic as soon as possible.

All eligible New Brunswickers can book their second-dose appointments for a date that is at least 28 days after their first dose.

Those attending a vaccination clinic are asked to bring their Medicare card, a signed consent form and, for those receiving their second dose, a copy of the record of immunization provided after receiving their first dose.

A list of upcoming mobile and walk-in clinics is available online.

Potential public exposures

Anyone with symptoms of the virus, as well as anyone who has been at the site of a possible public exposure, is urged to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment.