Fewer than 600 provincial government employees in New Brunswick are currently unvaccinated against COVID-19, according to the latest figures from the province.
The Department of Finance and Treasury Board said there were 563 employees without any vaccination as of Monday, representing 0.96 per cent of the total workforce of more than 58,000.
“This was a significant improvement from the numbers we provided on Nov. 18 as many employees showed their proof of vaccination on Nov. 19,” Erika Jutras, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement Tuesday.
Nearly 2,000 employees, or 3.3 per cent of the total workforce, were unvaccinated as of last Thursday, Nov. 18.
That was one day before the province’s vaccination mandate for the public service came into effect.
Employees without two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or without a first dose and a confirmed appointment for a second, were placed on unpaid leave at the end of the workday Friday.
Of the 563 employees who are currently without any vaccination, 320 are health-care employees, including Extra-Mural/Ambulance New Brunswick. That represents 1.5 per cent of all health-care employees.
There are also 121 employees, or 0.62 per cent, in the education system without any vaccination. That includes teachers, bus drivers, and school district employees.
Jutras said employees who are on leave without pay can choose to get vaccinated and will be able to come back to work if they show proof of a first dose and a confirmed appointment for their second dose.
“Employees who choose not to get vaccinated will continue to be on leave without pay. A decision has not yet been made regarding how long they will remain on leave without pay,” said Jutras.
“We are still hopeful that those employees who are on leave without pay will choose to get their vaccinations and can come back to work, but at this time, we must take these steps for the safety of our other employees and members of the public.”
On Monday, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said she has “no regrets about staying strong” on the province’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for public service workers.
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