N.B. COVID-19 roundup: 1 death, 75 new cases, parents can book vaccination for children 5 to 11

New Brunswick parents can now book an appointment to get their children aged five to 11 vaccinated as early as Friday, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced Tuesday, as the province recorded another COVID-related death and 75 new cases of COVID-19, and hospitalizations jumped to 45.

A person in their 60s in the Fredericton region, Zone 3, has died, raisingthe pandemic death toll to 123.

Since Monday, the number of people in hospital has increased by 12. Nine of the cases contracted the virus while hospitalized for other reasons because of outbreaks on three units of the Moncton Hospital, Public Health said in an afternoon news release.

One person under 19 is currently hospitalized. Their age, vaccination status and condition havenot been released.

Eighteen people are inintensive care, up from 15.

The first doses of thePfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine have started to arrive in the province, Shephard told a morning news conference.

The regional health authority community clinics will be the first to administerthe vaccines, starting Friday. Parents can book an appointment onlinethrough the Horizon and Vitalit health networks.

Participating pharmacies will follow, and possibly some physicians' offices, but unlike Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, no school-based clinics are planned, said Shephard.

Horizon and Vitalitalready have an "extensive" number of clinics across the province, bothurban and rural."It makes sense to use the locations that we have for expediency," she said, adding the province will "pivot" if need be.

It's too soon to say whether the province will make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory in schools,said Shephard.

"We need to see how this goes and discuss our options at a later date."

The government does not have a target threshold at this point, she said.

There are no immediate plans to require proof of vaccination for children under 12 to attend organized sports, restaurants, or other recreational activities either, Shephard said.

"We really don't want parents under any more duress. As we've donewith all of theother [vaccinations], we are openingit up and we'll see how it goes."

Shephard stressed the importance of getting as many young children vaccinated as possible to help reduce community spread.

With the increase of variants of concern, such as the delta variant, New Brunswick has seen an increasein cases of COVID-19 among children in recent months, she said.

Since September, about 30 per cent of cases have involved youth under 20. She did not say how many of those were under 12.

About 54,500 children are eligible to receive the vaccine, approved last Friday byHealth Canada for children aged five to 11.

New Brunswick children who will turn five by Dec. 31, 2021, will also be eligible.

Increasing vaccination rates will alsolower the likelihood that other variants of concern will mutate into more infectious strains, said Shephard.

"We can put ourselves on a path to moving forward through this fourth wave, beyond the pandemic and back to a more normal life."

Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said vaccination will also help "get kids back to being kids."

Shecould not speak to the anticipated uptake in the province but said federal surveys suggest at least 50 per cent of parentsplanto get their children vaccinated.

Russell said she knows some parents have concerns about the vaccine, but the mRNA technology is not new. "Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades to explore treatments for everything from the flu, to Zika virus, to rabies. These vaccines have been used to trigger the immune system to target certain cancer cells in studies since 2011."

The development of vaccinewas not rushed either, she said, assuring parents it was testedthoroughly on children aged five to 11 and was found to be "very safe and effective."

Pediatrician explains potential, mild side-effects

Dr. Rachel Ouellette, aFredericton pediatrician, who participated in the news conference, saidclinical trials found the vaccine is just over 90 per cent effective for children in this age group after they receive two doses.

The province willfollowthe adviceof theNational Advisory Committee on Immunization, which recommendsspacing thedoses at least eight weeksapart, instead of just three weeks, as authorized by Health Canada.

Evidence has been growing that a longer interval generates a more robust immune response, NACI said. The longer spacing mightalso help to decrease even further the risk of the rare side effectof myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, it said.

Ouellette described serious side-effects as "extremely rare."

"You may feel that your child is not at serious risk of contracting or becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.While some cases of COVID-19 in kids are mild and asymptomatic, it is also true that some kids have become very sick. They can end up hospitalized or even die."

Long-term complications, or symptoms, such asfatigue, shortness of breath, or difficulty concentrating can last for months after the infection, she said.

Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, also known as MIS-C, is another rare complication of COVID-19, said Ouellette. This can cause persistent fever and extreme inflammation of organs and tissues, such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys,digestive system, brain, skin or eyes.

Mild side-effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, which may last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, is common, "as with all other vaccines," said Ouellette.

"This situation is completely normal. It means that your child's body is reacting naturally and working hard to build protection against the virus," she said.

A child'sarm may be sore or they may experience redness or swelling at the injection site, for example.

They may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fatigue, joint pain,headache, low-grade fever or muscle aches.

If these symptoms last longer than 72 hours, Ouellette recommends parents talk to their child's health-care provider.

She also offered some advice for parents whose child is afraid of getting needles. They can bring their child's favourite toy to their appointment, or a "distraction," such as a smartphone or book.They can also offer their childsome control by letting them choose which arm.

"Over the last 20 months, our kids have had to miss out on so much. They've missed out from school, extracurricular activities, social events and many are missing their grandparents or other family members outside of our region. This has caused increased stress on our children and has negatively impacted their mental health.

"By choosing to vaccinate your child, you can ensure they are able to continue with their daily routines and will not have to worry about missing out on important events and activities."

As amother of young children herself, Ouellette said she is eager to get them vaccinated as soon as she can.

A total of 87.5per centof New Brunswickers aged 12 or older are fully vaccinated, unchanged, and93.4per centhave received their firstdose, also unchanged.

Next Monday the province willincludechildren aged five to 11in its immunization statistics. This will cause the vaccination rates to "take a small drop for a few weeks," said Russell.

"But as more children under 12 get vaccinated, we will quickly see our vaccination progress improve and those numbers will increase again."

2 more outbreaks at Moncton Hospital

COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared on the rehabilitation unit, Unit 4400,and the family practice and geriatric unit, Unit 5100,atThe Moncton Hospital, the Horizon Health Network announced Tuesday.

The number of confirmed cases and whether they involve patients or staff was not provided.

On Monday, an outbreak was declared on the stroke and family medicine unit,Unit 4600.

COVID-19 testing of patients and staff is underway and staff are following enhanced infection prevention and control guidelines, according to a news release.

Asked for an update on the outbreaks during a COVID briefing Tuesday morning, Dr. Jennifer Russell said only, "We've got an ongoing investigation and we'll have more news to follow."

The designated support person program for patients on the affectedunits will be suspended and existingvisitor restrictions remain in placethroughout the hospital, Horizon said.

In addition, there will be no patient admissions or transfers to orfrom these units.

320 health-care employees still unvaccinated

A total of 320 health-care system employees remain unvaccinated, and on unpaid leave, as of Tuesday, said Health Minister Dorothy Shephard.

They includehealth-care professionals to maintenance workers throughout the province at bothregional health authoritiesHorizon and Vitalitas well as Extramural/AmbulanceNew Brunswick,she told reporters.

"It's my understanding at this time that there haven't been impacts, that the RHAs have managed it."

Last Friday was the deadline for all government employees to provide proof of, at minimum,one dose and an appointment for a second,or a medical exemption. Otherwise, they would be sent home without pay.

As of last Thursday,734 health-care workers had failed to show proof, Premier Blaine Higgs said.

"So we're grateful for everyone who stepped up to receive their vaccination," Shephard said.

The province has 21,765 health-care employees.

Breakdown of new cases

The 75 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed Tuesday and 56 morerecoveriesput the province's active case count at 665, up from 647.

Here is a regional breakdown of the new cases:

Moncton region, Zone 1 40 cases:

• Four people 19 orunder
• Five people 20 to 29
• Four people 30 to 39
• Six people 40 to 49
• Six people 50 to 59
• Seven people 60 to 69
• Two people 70 to 79
• Three people 80 to 89
• Three people 90 orover

Twenty-five of these cases are under investigation and 15 are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Saint John region, Zone 2 13 cases:

• Four people 19 or under
• Two people 20 to 29
• Two people 30 to 39
• Two people 50 to 59
• Two people 70 to 79
• A person 80 to 89

Four of these cases are under investigation and nine cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Fredericton region,Zone 3 nine cases:

• Three people 19 orunder
• Two people 30 to 39
• A person 40 to 49
• A person 50 to 59
• A person 60 to 69
• A person 80 to 89

Eight of these cases are under investigation and the otheris a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Edmundston region, Zone 4 one case:

• A person 19 orunder

Thiscase is travel-related.

Miramichi region,Zone 7 12 cases:

• Four people 19 orunder
• A person 30 to 39
• Two people 40 to 49
• Four people 60 to 69
• A person 70 to 79

Five of these cases are under investigation and seven cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Atotal of 549,037 COVID-19 tests have been conducted to date, including 1,837on Monday.

New Brunswick has had7,806 confirmed cases of COVID-19since the beginningof the pandemic, including7,017 recoveries so far.

Pharmacists ask people to be patient

As pharmacies prepare for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for young children, the executive director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association is asking parents to be patient.

While the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 arrived in the province Tuesday, Jake Reid said pharmacies are only expected to receive their doses between Dec. 2 and Dec. 8.

He said pharmacies will start booking appointments as soon as they receive their supply.

Only about 125 pharmacies will be administering the pediatric vaccines, down from the roughly 208 who participated earlier in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, said Reid.

And many of them are also busy administering first doses, second doses, third doses, and flu shots, as well as filling prescriptions.

"This is no longer a sprint. This is very much a marathon," he told CBC's Shift. "That's what we've said to pharmacies is, you know, 'Look at your own capacity, see how much you're able to do, how many appointments you're able to commit to every week.'

"And I think the big thing for patients is just to remember to have some patience, that when the time comes and you're able to book an appointment, you may not be able to get one immediately, but that's OK. You can get one the next week or the week after that."

Pharmacists are using this time to comeup with "all sorts of ideas" on how to keep childrenentertained or distracted during their shots, said Reid.

He knows of one pharmacywhere they're going to takeoff their lab coats in the consultation room and wearugly Christmas sweaters,"just to make it more of a Christmas atmosphere." Another pharmacy will have a Disney movie playing on a DVD player.

Parents also have a role to play in preparing their children, he said.

"We can sometimes build up in our heads, as kids, you know, this event of getting a needle. And we really need, as adults, to tear that down."

Reid recommends telling children who they're going in to see and what it's going to look like.

"We don't want to lie to them. We don't want to say, 'We're going down to the store to get some candy,' and then we arrive at the pharmacy to get a needle."

When his children were young he used to get them to roll up their sleeve and used a pen topoke the spot where they would be getting the needle.

"They said, 'Is it going to hurt?' And I said, 'Well, did you feel that?' 'Well, not really.' 'Well, it's going to feel like that. You really don't feel the needle going in if you don't focus on it and you might be a little bit sore afterwards.'"

Parents can "model good behaviour" by telling their children about their own vaccination experience, Reid said.

They can also encourage their children to model good behaviour, he suggested. "Say, 'Well, you know, you don't want to go in crying when there's other kids there because then they might become scared.'"

Taking deep breaths can help. "The more [they]relax, the better it is."

He also recommends bringing a favourite toy, video game or book.

Prison outbreak continues to grow

A COVID-19 outbreak at Dorchester Penitentiary continues to grow after another inmatetested positiveTuesday.

There are now 51 confirmed cases among inmates inthe medium-security unit, Correctional Services Canada's website shows.

The number of infected staff members is not indicated, but as of Monday, five had tested positive, which would put the total cases at 56.

At least one case is "not related to the outbreak,"regional manager of communicationsShelley Lawrence said in an emailed statement Monday, without elaborating.

Asked for an update on the prison outbreak during a COVID briefing Tuesday morning, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell told reporters, "We probably will have additional cases today that we'll be announcing later, but we're ahead of the press release, so I can't give those numbers now."

The government's new release, issued around 3:30 p.m.,made no mention of the outbreak.

Cases at 2 schools, 1 preschool

Two new cases of COVID-19have been confirmed at two schools since Monday, the COVID-19 dashboard shows.

In the Miramichiregion, Zone 7, there is a positive case atMax Aitken Academy, which was not previously impacted, and in the Moncton region, Zone 1, there is another positive case atBessborough School.

Twenty-two schools arecurrently impacted.

A total of474 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at 133 schools since the beginning of the school year.

A positive case has also been confirmed at the Preschool Centre in the Fredericton region, Zone 3.

People who have been in close contact with a confirmed casewill be notified directly by Public Health or the child-care facility for contact tracing, Public Health said.

Eighty-six early learning and child-care facilities have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 since Sept. 7.The number of cases has not been disclosed.

Atlantic COVID roundup

Nova Scotia reported 29new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the active caseload to 184.Eighteen people are in hospital with the virus, including sixin intensive care.

Prince Edward Islandannounced seven new cases and has 28 active cases.

Newfoundland and Labradorreported a three-day total of three new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The province's active case count has dropped to12 the lowest it has been since Aug. 18. Oneperson is in hospital because of the virus.

Public exposure notices

Public Health postedseveral new exposure notices Tuesday,including a dinner theatre, coffee shop and gym in the Moncton region, Zone 1, a library, a church and a mall inthe Saint John region, Zone 2, and restaurants, bars, a civic centre andlegion in the Fredericton region, Zone 3.

For the full list of new and previous public exposure notices, please visitthe provincial government's website.

People who have not been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure and who have symptoms should get a COVID lab test. They can book an appointmentonlineor call Tele-Care 811 and must isolate while waiting for their test result.

People who are not fully vaccinated and do not have symptomsare now being instructed to pick up anAt-Home COVID-19 Rapid Point of Care Test(Rapid POCT) screening kit. They do not need to isolate if they have not been directed by Public Health to do so.

All positive point-of-care test results must be confirmed with a laboratory polymerase chain reaction, orPCR, test.

It can take up to 14 days to test positive after being exposed to COVID-19, so even ifresults comeback negative, peopleshould continue to self-monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if any develop.

They should also avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters during that 14-day period.

For people who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID lab test if symptoms develop.

They do not need to isolate while they wait for their test results.

If they do not have symptoms, they can pick up a rapid test kit and do not need to isolate.

What to do if you have a symptom

People concerned they might have COVID-19 cantake a self-assessment test online.

Public Health says symptoms of the illness have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, and difficulty breathing.

In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.

People with one of those symptoms should stay at home, call 811 or their doctor and follow instructions.