Just over 52,000 New Brunswickers have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 91,000 have received this year’s flu shot since they became available on Oct. 3, according to the government.
Comments closedTag: New Brunswick
Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Changes in Paxlovid coverage raises concerns about affordability, access in N.B.
New Brunswick has taken steps to make Paxlovid more affordable for some people at higher risk of becoming severely ill or dying from COVID-19, now that the federal government has stopped supplying the anti-viral medication to provinces for free.
But the drug designed to reduce symptoms from an infection and shorten the period of illness remains out of reach for many, either because of the cost of about $1,400 for a five-day course, a lack of timely access, or reduced eligibility.
Comments closedTopic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines
COVID-19 boosters start rolling out to some Canadians. Who can get them?
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are starting to roll out to some high-risk Canadians, but others will have to wait a little while longer before these new shots are offered to them.
Last month, Health Canada approved Pfizer and Moderna’s latest COVID-19 vaccines targeting the most recent variants of the virus.
Both shots are approved for everyone aged six months and older.
The new mRNA vaccines from both pharmaceutical companies target the KP.2 subvariant of Omicron that was dominating COVID-19 spread earlier this year.
Comments closedTopic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines
No Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in Canada this fall, immunocompromised N.B. woman feels ‘expendable’
Linda Wilhelm, 64, of Bloomfield, N.B., is planning a road trip to the United States. But it’s not to go sightseeing or shopping.
Wilhelm, who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis, hopes to get the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which won’t be available in Canada as part of the fall vaccination campaign, unless provinces and territories order doses on their own.
Wilhelm, president of the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance and a member of the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network, says the protein-based vaccine is a better option for immunocompromised people like her than the more common Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines. She says she feels “expendable” and urges the federal government to reconsider.
Less than two months ago, the network wrote to numerous federal, provincial and territorial officials, calling for improved access to Novavax and increased awareness.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
COVID-19 experts warn of risks of summer surge as N.B. hazard index leads country
Two infectious disease experts are warning New Brunswickers about the risks of COVID-19 heading into the summer, when they say many people mistakenly believe infections decrease.
New Brunswick has the highest COVID-19 risk index in the country right now — more than double the national average, according to Tara Moriarty, an infectious disease researcher and lead of COVID-19 Resources Canada, which produces a weekly forecast.
The province is listed as “severe” for June 22 to July 5, with a score of 28.2, based on current infections and spread, health-care system impact and mortality. Canada’s overall rate is 13.6.
Comments closedTopic: pro-virus policiesView all posts for the topic: pro-virus policies
Video | Feds to stop providing free COVID-19 rapid tests
The federal government, which spent billions on COVID-19 rapid tests during the height of the pandemic, says it will stop supplying provinces and territories with those tests. Heidi Petracek explains the move, and the reaction from some provinces and doctors.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Two more COVID deaths, another killed by the flu: province
Two New Brunswickers died from COVID-19 and one was killed by influenza between May 5-11, according to new data from the province.
All three were 65 or older.
Eight people required hospital treatment for COVID between May 5-11; none needed intensive care. There were three lab-confirmed COVID outbreaks, including one in a nursing home and two in “other facilities.”
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Winding down of free COVID-19 rapid test kit access in N.B. ‘an abdication of what public health is supposed to be,’ says epidemiologist
Comments closedWe know that COVID-19 is not an equal-opportunity disease, we’ve known this for four years. COVID tends to have a disproportionately high impact on people who are lower on the socio-economic ladder; people who don’t have the luxury of working from home, people who are doing essential work, people who because of their income are living in more crowded conditions. These are all risk factors and they’re all socio-economically tied. So to say, ‘Yeah, there’s this tool that will keep you safe if you have enough money to pay for it,’ I think is an abdication of what public health is supposed to be, which is public.
Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
COVID-19 rapid tests will stop being distributed once supplies run out: N.B. government
COVID-19 rapid tests in New Brunswick will stop being distributed through community-based distribution sites when the current supply runs out, which the province says will likely be by the end of next month.
A news release from the New Brunswick government Thursday says, aside from a few specific groups, testing hasn’t been recommended for the general public since March 2023. Separate testing guidelines remain in place for certain settings, such as special care homes.
“However, our guidance has changed throughout the pandemic as the virus has evolved,” said Dr. Yves Léger, the province’s acting chief medical officer of health. “Testing will still be recommended for certain groups but, for the general public, the focus is on staying home when you are ill. That remains the most important measure to take.”
Comments closedTopic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis
Wildfire smoke could move into Ottawa, eastern Ontario tonight
Wildfires in western Canada will likely bring smoke into Ottawa and eastern Ontario starting on Monday and into Tuesday morning.
CTV’s Your Morning chief meteorologist Kelsey McEwen says smoke could travel as far as Quebec City by Tuesday morning with air quality advisories being issued in five provinces.
“You can see the Jetstream pulling that smoke down south of the border through the Dakotas and back up through the Great Lakes,” McEwen said.
“By tomorrow, this begins to slide toward the Ottawa-Gatineau area, tomorrow morning and out toward Quebec City.”
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
N.B. decides against updates to Clean Air Act to improve indoor air quality
Nearly a year after the legislature unanimously passed an Opposition motion to update the New Brunswick Clean Air Act and improve air quality in public buildings to reduce the spread of airborne illnesses, such as COVID-19, the government says it won’t update the act after all.
The Department of Environment and Local Government reviewed the act, which dates back to 1997, and “determined updating was not necessary because protections already exist under other legislation,” such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, said spokesperson Clarissa Andersen.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Two more COVID deaths in New Brunswick
Two New Brunswickers aged 65 or older died from COVID-19 between April 14-20, according to new data from the province.
The news was included in its weekly update on COVID and influenza.
Seventeen people required hospital treatment for COVID between April 14-20, and one patient needed intensive care. There were two lab-confirmed COVID outbreaks in undisclosed facilities.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
New Brunswick mulls future of COVID-19 rapid tests, as virus kills 2, hospitalizes child under 4
New Brunswick is mulling the future of its COVID-19 rapid point-of-care testing program, as the virus claimed two more lives and hospitalized 17 people, including a child under four.
“Demand for rapid tests has been steadily declining since last fall, and the province is currently determining its next steps with regards to the COVID-19 tests,” said Department of Health spokesperson Sean Hatchard.
He made the comment in response to questions from CBC News about how much longer the province will continue to offer free rapid test kits and whether it’s considering phasing them out.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
COVID-19 kills 2 more in N.B., flu sends child under 4 and 2 youths to hospital
COVID-19 has killed two more New Brunswickers, while a child under four and two youths aged five to 19 are among those hospitalized by the flu, Tuesday’s Respiratory Watch report shows.
“COVID-19 activity remains moderate; some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and number of deaths) remained stable during the current reporting period,” April 7 to April 13, the report says.
Influenza activity decreased slightly, it says.
The two people who died from COVID during the reporting week were both aged 65 or older.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
COVID-19 kills New Brunswicker aged 45-64, 2 youth among those hospitalized by flu
A New Brunswicker aged 45 to 64 has died from COVID-19, while the flu sent eight people to the hospital, including two youth aged five to 19, updated data from the province Tuesday shows.
“COVID-19 activity remains moderate,” according to the Respiratory Watch report. “Some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations) decreased slightly during the current reporting period, between March 31 and April 6.
Influenza activity remained “relatively stable,” it says.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
3 COVID deaths recorded as N.B. cases increase slightly, child under 4 dies from flu
Three more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19, and one child died of influenza, according to data from the province updated Wednesday.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have slightly increased, while influenza hospitalizations remained steady in the period of March 17 to March 23, according to the provincial Respiratory Watch report.
“COVID-19 activity remains moderate; some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations) increased slightly,” the report says.
The person who died of influenza was four years old or younger.
Continue reading3 COVID deaths recorded as N.B. cases increase slightly, child under 4 dies from flu
Comments closed Topic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
3 more COVID deaths in New Brunswick, 4 youth among flu hospitalizations
Three more New Brunswickers have died from COVID-19, while no new influenza deaths have been reported, and hospitalizations for both viruses have decreased, updated data from the province Tuesday shows.
A child under four, and three youth aged five to 19 are among those hospitalized by the flu between March 10 and March 16, according to the Respiratory Watch report.
“COVID-19 activity remains moderate; some indicators (number of cases, percent positivity, and hospitalizations) decreased slightly during the current reporting period,” it says.
Influenza activity “slightly decreased” during the reporting week.
Of the three people who died, one was aged 45 to 64 and the other two were aged 65 or older.
Comments closedTopic: New BrunswickView all posts for the topic: New Brunswick
Spring COVID-19 vaccines available April 2 for high-risk New Brunswickers
Spring COVID-19 vaccines will be available April 2 to New Brunswickers considered most at risk of severe illness.
This includes people aged 65 or older, residents of nursing homes and adult residential facilities, and immunocompromised people aged six months or older, the Department of Health said in a news release Monday.
Comments closed