N.B. Prepares For Dry Run Of Vaccine Rollout

New Brunswick is expected to receive tens of thousands of doses of COVID-19 vaccine early next year.

Premier Blaine Higgs told reporters Sunday that the province has been told to expect about 60,000 doses during the first quarter.

“But the important part of all of that is what will be the schedule of delivery,” said Higgs during Sunday’s COVID-19 briefing.

“What will be the schedule of delivery? Do we get the 60,000 vaccines all at once? Are they spread out over the first quarter? What’s the timing going to look like?”

Higgs said his government will work with Public Health officials to prioritize who will get the first doses.

Meanwhile, the federal and provincial governments are expected to hold a “dry run” of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout systems on Monday.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said the practice run will ensure all measures are in place logistically.

“We have everything in place that we need from a planning perspective,” said Russell. “It’s a matter of then operationalizing it and making sure that what’s on paper is actually smoothly rolled out in reality.”

“The trial run, to me, it seems like a lot more related to Pfizer’s product and the concern of how it’s going to be handled and managed because it is unique to other vaccines in that regard,” Higgs added.

The vaccine by Pfizer, one of several currently being considered by Health Canada, requires ultra-cold storage around -70°C.

Vaccines are typically delivered to provinces and territories by the federal government, but the Pfizer vaccine would be delivered directly by the manufacturer.

The federal government has already ordered 26 freezers capable of storing items at -80°C.

Russell was asked about the province’s rollout plan during Sunday’s COVID-19 briefing.

She said some preliminary plans are in place, but she is not prepared to share them yet.

“There are many, many security issues around the logistics pieces,” said Russell. “We have heard internationally of some challenges with hackers in terms of the transport of the cold chain and protection of the cold chain of the vaccines.”