Proof of vaccination arrives in NB

If you want to watch junior hockey in New Brunswick this year, you'll need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The provincial government announced Wednesday that "beginning Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m., people will be required to show proof of vaccination when accessing certain events, services and businesses, and anyone entering New Brunswick must preregister their travel."

Among the places that will require proof of full vaccination are "indoor festivals, performing arts and sporting events," which Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games presumably fall under. To enter, people will have to show "proof of vaccination and government-issued identification" if they are 12 and older. 

The province's press release provides further details - and also mentions that a QR code system to easily show proof of vaccination should be rolled out next month.

The first QMJHL game in New Brunswick that will be impacted by these new rules is a Sept. 26 pre-season contest between the Charlottetown Islanders and Moncton Wildcats in Bouctouche.

Further details on how all of this will work will no doubt be announced before the regular season begins on Oct. 1.

The move comes as no surprise with COVID-19 numbers surging again and other provinces implementing similar proof of vaccination programs for non-essential services.

The QMJHL's 12 Quebec-based teams will all require proof of vaccination and so will the Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles. The Ontario Hockey League announced Wednesday that beginning Sept. 22, anyone entering any of its 17 Ontario-based facilities will require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

While it's hard to keep up with each province's mandates, there is a chance every CHL building will require proof of vaccination by the time the regular season begins in a few weeks.

If you're vaccinated this doesn't change much, other than having to bring some form of documentation and ID to the rink with you. This minor inconvenience is a lot better than reliving the 2020-21 mess of a season again.

If you're over the age of 12 and not vaccinated, it would be great if you could get on that as soon as possible. Limiting harm to your community is a pretty great thing to do.