COVID-19 vaccines
The more people who are immunized against COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread. Do your part and get fully vaccinated.
Vaccines help protect you and the people around you. The more people who are immunized against COVID-19, the harder it is for the virus to spread.
Vaccination after a COVID infection is important. A COVID infection does offer an immune response and protection however similar to the vaccine its protection does decrease over time. The combination of having been infected and also being immunized (called hybrid immunity) does provide strong protection against new variants and spacing them apart offers the most protection.
There is no cost to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Publicly funded vaccination programs have saved lives and prevented infections in Canada and around the world for decades.
mRNA vaccines (Pfizer/Moderna) are the recommended product for all vaccine doses.
Do your part and get all your doses to be fully vaccinated.
Every New Brunswicker who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated.
Currently, vaccines approved in Canada are approved for all individuals aged 6 months and over.
Vaccines are safe and effective. By saying “yes” to vaccination, you are helping to protect yourself, your family and your community against COVID-19.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are strongly encouraged to complete their primary vaccine series and receive a booster dose at any stage of pregnancy. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) continues to re-affirm the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
For some people, the decision to get vaccinated will require consideration of risks versus benefits. If you have questions about the vaccine or your health conditions, contact your primary healthcare provider or speak to a pharmacist near you.
Vaccination is very important, even if you have had COVID-19. Vaccination after infection helps improve the immune response and may provide better long-lasting protection against current and future variants of the virus. A longer time between infection and vaccination may result in a better immune response.
Have questions?
Find information about New Brunswick's roll-out, approved vaccines and vaccine safety here.
COVID-19 vaccine information for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers.Information for health and allied health professionals
Individuals who have been infected with COVID can optimize their benefit of a strong immune response by timing and spacing their next vaccine dose since the time of infection.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) continues to monitor the safety of additional doses of mRNA COVID-19. NACI has released its updated guidance on the timing of vaccination post infection on June 29th , 2022. New-Brunswick is following this guidance and the following intervals are recommended between a COVID-19 vaccine infection and your next vaccine dose.
COVID-19 infection and getting your vaccine before starting or completing your primary series vaccinations |
|
|---|---|
| Population Age |
Interval |
| 6 months of age and older; not considered moderately to severely immunocompromised. | 8 weeks after symptom onset or positive test |
| 6 months of age and older; moderately to severely immunocompromised. | 4 to 8 weeks* after symptom onset or positive test |
| 6 months of age and older; previous history of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome MIS-C (regardless of immunocompromised state) | Receive the vaccine dose when clinically recovered or >90 days since the onset of MIS-C, whichever is longer |
Getting your booster dose after having a COVID-19 infection |
|
| Population age |
Interval |
Healthy individuals 5 years of age and older |
5 months (minimum 3 months)** either your last vaccine dose OR the date of your COVID-19 infection (whichever is more recent) |
*For children who have a weakened immune system, getting a COVID-19 vaccine dose 4 to 8 weeks after a COVID-19 infection may give better protection in the long-term while also giving the most protection as soon as possible. These intervals serve as a guide and should you have concerns regarding how this applies to you, please communicate with your Primary Health Care Provider. It is important to follow these intervals as much as possible given the benefits of a better immune response and protection against COVID-19.
**To balance the benefits of a booster and immunity after infection, (hybrid immunity) immunization providers should administer vaccines as close to the recommended intervals as possible, i.e. 5 months in NB (minimum of 3 months). A longer time between doses and infection allows time for the immune response to mature in breadth and strength. Infection- and/or vaccine-acquired immunity wanes over time, which supports administration of subsequent vaccine doses (especially in populations at high risk of severe disease and/or at high risk of poor immune responses to vaccination).
All New Brunswickers aged 6 months and older are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Getting vaccinated is easy. Everyone aged 6 months or older is eligible to get vaccinated.
If you are aged 16 or older, you can book an appointment yourself, at a participating pharmacy. If you are between the ages of 12 to 15, and your consent is filled out by your parent or legal guardian, you can schedule an appointment at a participating pharmacy.
Parents/Guardians have an important role in discussing treatments which affect a minor’s health and well-being. It is highly recommended that parents/legal guardians discuss COVID-19 disease and immunization with their children in a loving and caring environment.
Under the New Brunswick Medical Consent of Minors Act, children can give consent as a mature minor to receive health care, like getting a vaccine. Under certain conditions they do not require parental consent; however, it is preferred that parents/legal guardians consent to immunizations for minors younger than 16.
For more information on Mature Minor consent for COVID-19 vaccination: PDF
The Government of New Brunswick has partnered with community pharmacies in the province to provide the majority of appointments for New Brunswickers to get vaccinated. The process for booking can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Some pharmacies offer online scheduling, while others require that you call to book your appointment. For a list of participating pharmacies open the “Find a Pharmacy” list below and click on the pharmacy nearest you for appointment booking directions or call your local pharmacy today.
Pharmacies will continue to offer vaccination clinics around the province. Check with your local pharmacy first at the links provided above.
Regional Health Authorities (Horizon and Vitalité) will continue to offer some vaccination clinics in certain locations around the province, including Grand Manan. These clinics are available for those aged 6 months and older based on community demand. To schedule an appointment at one of these clinics, click below to schedule online, contact Tele-Services at 1-833-437-1424 or email VNB@gnb.ca.
A limited amount of the Janssen Jcovden and Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccines are available to eligible New Brunswickers over 18 years of age.
To schedule an appointment for a Janssen Jcovden vaccine, you can select an appointment through the online booking system. Some Public Health offices are also offering appointments for Pfizer/Moderna vaccines for individuals 12+, these can also be booked through the online booking system.If there are no clinics in your zone, please contact Tele-Services at 1-833-437-1424 or email VNB@gnb.ca. Please note, mRNA vaccine products are the recommended vaccines. If you are aware of the differences and wish to proceed with an appointment for Janssen Jcovden, proceed with scheduling your appointment.
To schedule an appointment for a Novavax Nuvaxovid vaccine, you can select an appointment through the participating pharmacies list. If there are no clinics in your zone, please contact Tele-Services at 1-833-437-1424 or email VNB@gnb.ca. Please note, if you have previously received a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) it is recommended to book another mRNA vaccine. If you are aware of the differences and wish to proceed with an appointment for Novavax, proceed with scheduling your appointment.
COVID vaccines remain an essential first defense against serious illness and death from COVID-19. With the presence of Omicron and the likely emergence of new variants in the future, completing your primary series vaccines and getting your booster doses will provide the best protection. We strongly recommend individuals to stay up-to-date with the COVID vaccines recommended, regardless of the type of booster available. If you have recently had a COVID infection, review "When should you get vaccinated after a COVID-19 infection" section on this page.
A “monovalent” booster is the term used for the original COVID vaccines and “bivalent” is the term used for the fall booster that targets both the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant of concern (BA.1). The data continues to show that both original booster and new bivalent booster provide significant protection against hospitalization and severe disease. Individuals who are at an increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19, should not delay their planned vaccination in anticipation of a bivalent Omicron-containing vaccine. Anyone choosing to delay a booster dose should carefully consider their individual risk.
Please refer to the table below to see which booster is available to you and the recommended intervals. Booster products are interchangeable and regardless of which product was previously received.
NEW BRUNSWICK’S RECOMMENDED BOOSTER VACCINE AND
INTERVALS FOR ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS
| Populations and age of eligibility |
New Brunswick’s recommended |
|---|---|
| All children aged between aged 6 months to 4 years and 11 months | *Not eligible for booster doses |
| All children aged 5 years to 11 years | 5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since the last primary series dose and first booster dose *Not eligible for additional boosters at this time Monovalent mRNA vaccines are currently offered to this group. Pfizer is the recommended product. |
| All children and youth aged 12 to 17 years | 5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since last primary series dose or booster, regardless of the previous number of booster doses received Monovalent mRNA vaccines are available to healthy individuals in this group. Pfizer is the recommended product. Moderna (monovalent) is offered with informed consent. Bivalent mRNA vaccines are now available to moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals and present themselves on an honor system. Pfizer (bivalent) is the recommended product in this age group. Moderna bivalent is currently the only bivalent vaccine approved and is offered with informed consent. |
| All individuals aged 18 to 49 years | 5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since last booster dose or last primary series dose , regardless of the previous number of booster doses received. Monovalent mRNA vaccines are currently available for this group. Either Pfizer or Moderna product is recommended in this age group |
| First Nations, Metis and Inuit individuals aged 12 years and over |
5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since last primary series dose or booster dose, regardless of the previous number of booster doses received Bivalent mRNA vaccines are now available. For those aged 18 and over, either Pfizer or Moderna product is now recommended in this age group. Moderna bivalent is currently the only bivalent vaccine approved. For those aged between 12-17 in this group, refer to the section above for available type of boosters offered. |
| All individuals 50 years old and over | 5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since last primary series dose or booster dose, regardless of the previous number of booster doses received Bivalent mRNA vaccines are now available. Either Pfizer or Moderna product is recommended in this age group. Moderna bivalent is currently the only bivalent vaccine approved. |
All residents of long-term care facilities aged 12 years and over |
5 MONTHS (minimum of 3 months) since last primary series dose or booster dose, regardless of the previous number of booster doses received Bivalent mRNA vaccines will be available in October. For those aged 18 and over, either Pfizer or Moderna product is now recommended in this age group. Moderna bivalent is currently the only bivalent vaccine approved. For those aged between 12-17 in this group, refer to the section above for available type of boosters offered. |
Individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised Moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals have additional recommended primary series doses (three doses instead of two) and should check with their health care provider on the proper number of doses required for optimal protection against COVID-19. |
|
Before booking, please make sure you:
1. Review the vaccination information sheet for the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines (COVID-19) you will receive.
More information on each specific vaccine is also available on Get The Facts
2. Review, complete and sign your immunization consent form
Bring your signed consent form to your appointment. (Separate consent forms are required for each dose)
If you do not have access to a printer or cannot print the consent form, one will be available at the appointment.
You must complete the form before you can receive a vaccine.
If English or French are not your first language, you can see a translation of the form for reference purposes. You will need to complete and sign either an English or French consent form.
To cancel or reschedule a vaccination appointment follow these steps:
If you booked an appointment organized by Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network click here or call 1-833-437-1424.
You will need:
- Booking ID (or date of birth)
- Confirmation email
If you don’t have a Booking ID (or date of birth) you can fill out following form or call 1-833-437-1424 for assistance.
To cancel your appointment at a participating pharmacy please follow the pharmacy's instructions regarding cancellations. Please check the pharmacy's website or their social media accounts before calling.
If your appointment was made at a pharmacy in New Brunswick using GNB’s scheduling system, you can use the process above outlined for Horizon Health Network or Vitalité Health Network to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
It takes approximately 14-21 days for a dose to provide full efficacy.
Monitor for side effects
Side effects are generally mild and might include tenderness at the injection site, a low fever, aching joints, a headache or lethargy. These symptoms should not last more than a week or lead to a high fever. If this happens, contact your primary health care provider or 8-1-1.
Follow public health measures
Until enough people have been fully vaccinated to stop the spread of COVID-19, we should all:
- continue to follow public health advice and restrictions
- wear a mask or face covering
- practice physical distancing
- stay close to home as much as possible
- keep social circles small
The paper Record of COVID-19 Immunization provided from Vaccination Clinics and Community Pharmacies is and will continue to be your official record.
If you have lost your Record of COVID-19 Immunization and you require a replacement copy, you may view and print your Record of COVID-19 Immunization online through MyHealthNB. Please note that it may take up to five business days after your vaccination appointment for immunization records to be processed and appear in MyHealthNB.
If you already created a MyHealthNB account, log in to access your COVID-19 vaccinations. If you do not have access to your COVID-19 information on MyHealthNB, you can add access using a registration code.
Horizon or Vitalité COVID-19 vaccination and testing appointments continue to provide registration codes to allow individuals 16 or older with an NB Medicare card, to register for a MyHealthNB account and securely access their COVID-19 information.
If you do not have a registration code and received at least one COVID-19 vaccine in New Brunswick, you can register or add access (go to myhealth.gnb.ca for details).
Parents/Guardians may also access a child’s COVID-19 information, by adding the child to their own account. The child must be under 16, have an NB Medicare number, and a registration code.
If your first dose was received outside of New Brunswick
If you received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine outside of New Brunswick, please reach out to a participating pharmacy to complete your series.
NB residents who have received immunizations outside of New Brunswick can email their contact information to immunizationrecordupdates@gnb.ca and they will be contacted by to have their immunizations entered on MyHealthNB.
If you have received immunization outside of New Brunswick and you want to update your immunization record
New Brunswick residents who have received immunizations outside of New Brunswick can email their contact information to immunizationrecordupdates@gnb.ca. They will be contacted by Public Health to have their immunizations entered in the Public Health Information Solution. Once added, they will be viewable in MyHealthNB.
If you want to have a correction made to your demographic information on your current immunization record
New Brunswick residents can email their contact information to immunizationrecordupdates@gnb.ca. They will be contacted by Public Health to have their demographic information entered in the Public Health Information Solution. Once added, they will be viewable in MyHealthNB.
See Frequently Asked Questions for details on MyHealthNB eligibility and online immunization record views.
See Travel Information for information on proof of vaccination for travel outside of Canada.
At this time New Brunswick recommends that everyone should receive a complete COVID-19 vaccination series to protect themselves from COVID regardless of any past COVID infection.
In New Brunswick, you're considered fully vaccinated 14 days after you have any of the following COVID-19 vaccine combinations:
- Two doses of AstraZeneca Vaxzevria or COVISHIELD
- Two doses of Moderna Spikevax
- Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty
- Two doses of a combination of COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD, Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech).
- One dose of Janssen Jcovden (Johnson & Johnson) in limited quantity
- Two doses of Novavax Nuvaxovid in limited quantity
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) advises the Moderna Spikevax and the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA vaccines can be used interchangeably for first, second and booster doses. Both vaccines work the same way and are safe and effective in providing protection against COVID-19, including reducing the spread and providing very good protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death.
If you received 1 or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that's not approved by Health Canada and/or the World Health Organization, you’re not considered fully vaccinated. You will need additional dose(s) of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) and depending on the vaccine you received and your health situation, the health care provider will discuss the number of doses you require to complete your COVID-19 vaccine series.
More information is available on the Public Health Agency of Canada webpage on the Interchangeability of authorized COVID-19 vaccines.
Last updated: September 14, 2022
More information is available on the Public Health Agency of Canada webpage on the Interchangeability of authorized COVID-19 vaccines.