At a press conference in Fredericton on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, Chief Medical Officer of New Brunswick Dr. Jennifer Russell announced a new plan to the province's vaccine rollout with regards to mixing vaccines. New advice from the National Advisory Council on Immunization, based on recent studies in Europe, indicates that providing a second dose of vaccine that was different than the one used for the first dose is safe and effective against COVID-19. This means that New Brunswickers who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first dose will have the option of receiving an mRNA vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna when it is time for their second dose.

"This new advice suggests that these vaccines are interchangeable without loss of effectiveness," said Dr. Russell. "This allows us to provide more options when administering second doses, while still giving New Brunswickers maximum protection against COVID-19."

New Brunswickers who received the AstraZeneca vaccine as a first dose at least eight weeks ago and are 55 or older are now eligible to receive a second dose. Information for all New Brunswickers on when to expect a second dose of vaccine will be announced next week.

Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, who was also at the press conference, said the province is on track to meet its goal of having at least 75 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers having had their first dose of a vaccine by June 7. Meeting this goal by Monday is a requirement for the province in order for New Brunswick to enter into its first phase on the = path toward the Green level of the COVID-19 recovery plan on June 7. As of today, 64.5 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers have received a first dose.

"If we want to hit our first goal and move into the first phase on our path to Green by Monday, June 7, we all need to participate by rolling up our sleeves," said Shephard. "We are on the cusp of taking this first big step and we are depending on New Brunswickers to get us there."

"We have spaces in our clinics and sufficient vaccines in stock to reach our targets, but we need the participation of every eligible New Brunswicker, young and old," said Dr. Russell. "If you want to get back to a more normal life, get vaccinated. Then encourage everyone you know to follow your example."