Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

St. John's, NL (January 11, 2021) – David Brazil, Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, says the slow roll out of COVID-19 vaccines throughout Newfoundland and Labrador is putting more people at risk and extending the public health emergency in the province.

According to data from the COVID-19 Tracker App, Newfoundland and Labrador is second last in the country in vaccine distribution on a per-capita basis: 342.6 doses administered per 100,000 people (https://covid19tracker.ca/vaccinationtracker.html).

“The Furey Liberals and their federal counterparts are dragging their heels on vaccine distribution in Newfoundland and Labrador. Not only does it put our vulnerable population more at risk of exposure, it will continue to harm our economic recovery,” said Brazil.

Brazil says geographic challenges are one thing, but the demographic challenges of the province show Newfoundland and Labrador should be high on the national priority list.

“Our population is older than the rest of the country, with higher risk of complications from the virus due to the prevalence of diabetes and other comorbidities throughout our population. On top of that, our Indigenous populations remain at high risk to the virus. It’s unacceptable to be behind the pack on such a critical matter,” said Brazil.

Brazil is calling on Premier Furey and Health Minister Haggie to explain the lag in vaccination and advocate to their Liberal friends in Ottawa to make Newfoundland and Labrador a priority for vaccine distribution.

“We’re all thankful for the public health measures that have kept COVID-19 numbers so low. That means we have a chance to end this pandemic sooner and get back to normal. To miss out on that opportunity is unacceptable,” said Brazil.

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(p) 1.709.725.0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca

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