An advocacy group for seniors says vaccine access in New Brunswick has mostly improved, but highlighted one ongoing problem in a recent report.
The group CanAge rated New Brunswick B-plus, which ties for third place with Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon.
Neighbouring provinces Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island scored higher this year, with A-minus and A-plus.
“Well, it’s great news because two years ago New Brunswick was sitting at an F and has typically been at the bottom of the pack,” Laura Tamblyn-Watts, CEO of CanAge, said in an interview with CBC Radio’s Shift.
“The big differences are that New Brunswick actually started to fund some of the major vaccines that it hadn’t previously been funded.”
On most vaccines, she said, New Brunswick has moved in the right direction, such as a senior-specific influenza vaccine and others for pneumonia, RSV and COVID. Digital vaccine records have also improved in the province, she said.
“So that means we don’t have to wander around with those little old paper passports and try to figure out who’s been vaccinated when,” Tamblyn-Watts said.
The high placing on the report card for Atlantic Canada is important because the region has the oldest population in the country, she said.
But she said one major blind spot for New Brunswick is the lack of coverage for the shingles vaccine.
“If anyone’s had shingles, you know how incredibly painful it is,” Tamblyn-Watts said. “And if you get it once, it’s going to come back. It’s recurrent.
“Shingles can cause blindness. It’s not just an irritating rash.”
Laura Tamblyn-Watts said New Brunswick is the only province in Atlantic Canada that doesn’t cover the shingles vaccine. (Jacob Barker/CBC)
Left uncovered, she said, the shingles vaccine is about $300 for the two shots, a lot for some couples to come up with.
“Imagine folks living on a fixed income trying to come up with $600. With the escalating prices, we can tell you it’s just not affordable.”
Overall, she said, ensuring people can be vaccinated makes sense for reasons beyond individual health.
“So if you have people vaccinated, they’re not likely to end up in hospitals and you’re not likely to have those overflowing emergency rooms.”
