(February 24, 2021) – PC Party leader Ches Crosbie says the Furey Liberals’ inability to answer simple questions about Newfoundland and Labrador’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans rightly have people worried.

“The Liberal government has had a year to plan for the vaccine rollout,” said Crosbie.

“Yet the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, including those in the most at-risk age groups and those living with pre-existing conditions, are being left in the dark about when they’ll be vaccinated.”

Crosbie pointed to a Globe and Mail report from this week, which stated:
“…some provinces and territories are using outdated technology to record their vaccination data and not fully participating in a system Ottawa created to manage infectious disease outbreaks.”

For Newfoundland and Labrador, however, the situation appears even worse. That’s because, according to the report, Newfoundland and Labrador never responded to the survey to say how it will track vaccinations and what system it is using.

Other reports are just as upsetting.

On January 13, The Telegram reported on an interview with the operator of a national COVID-19 database, who said, “Newfoundland [and Labrador] has been one of the worst provinces for transparency with their vaccine data.”

Just yesterday, CanAge, a national senior’s advocacy group, gave the province a failing grade on its vaccine roll out, calling the grade a “wake up call” for the Liberal government.

Crosbie is also expressing concern on behalf of nurses of first responders who are concerned they may not be on the vaccination priority list.

“We have healthcare heroes going to work every day fearful that they will contract the virus and pass it on,” said Crosbie.

“They’re putting so much on the line to keep us safe. The least we can do is tell them the truth about where they are in the vaccination priority list.

Crosbie says that, upon taking office, a PC government will fully update the public on the details behind the province’s vaccination rollout – good, bad, or otherwise.

Contacts:
David Maher
Director of Communications
(p) (709) 769-2216