New BrunswickThe chief medical officer of health for New Brunswick hopes to see vaccine rates reach closer to set targets this season. Dr. Yves Léger said last season represented a decline in flu vaccine uptake, which could be because of vaccine fatigue.Around 17% and 30% of New Brunswickers got COVID-19, flu vaccines, respectively last seasonHannah Rudderham · CBC News · Posted: Oct 22, 2025 8:12 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoDr. Yves Léger said around 30 per cent of the New Brunswick population got a flu vaccine last season, but the national target is around 80 per cent. COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available for free at many pharmacies, and RSV vaccines are free to those 75 years and older. (Kate Dubinski/CBC News)The provincial government is once again encouraging New Brunswickers to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines, but according to the chief medical officer of health, people may be experiencing some “vaccine fatigue.” “People would like to sort of put the pandemic behind us and move on,” said Dr. Yves Léger. “And you know, we’re certainly seeing that as well in our vaccine coverage rates that were not quite as high last year as they were before, both for influenza and COVID.”Still, he said that “vaccines continue to be our best protection against these infections” and that the province continues to track case numbers on its public respiratory watch report. Dr. Yves Léger, chief medical officer of health, said the decline in vaccine uptake might be because of vaccine fatigue. (Shane Magee/CBC)The last respiratory watch report, which covered Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, showed a moderate activity level for COVID-19 and a low activity level for influenza.From Oct. 1 to Oct. 11, there were 34 COVID-19 vaccines and 147 flu vaccines administered.In an email, a Department of Health spokesperson said during the 2024-2025 fall vaccine campaign, 17 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.Léger said last season also represented a decline in flu shot uptake compared to previous years. “We tend to see rates go up and down,” he said. “Certainly we’re far from where we would want to see them. But I think it’s probably a reflection of a general sentiment of vaccine fatigue.”Léger said his understanding is that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be more readily available than Pfizer in New Brunswick at this time, but both are being offered. (Robert Short/CBC)He said around 30 per cent of the New Brunswick population got a flu vaccine last season, but the national target is around 80 per cent.Léger said in terms of COVID-19 vaccines, his understanding is that Moderna will be more readily available than Pfizer but both are being offered. He said the supply comes from the federal government through a procurement process, so the province doesn’t necessarily know — or get to choose — what vaccines they get. There is also an RSV, also known as respiratory syncytial virus, vaccine that is approved, and according to Léger, showing positive results in terms of preventing hospitalization for the elderly.He said that vaccine was added to the program last year with free coverage for individuals 60 and over living in long-term care homes. But this year, that has been expanded to include anyone over the age of 75. With files from Information Morning Fredericton
With vaccine season underway, health officer hopes uptake this year nears the target
