The difference is that the bricks will fall on your head and hurt much more than the vinyl. Generally the outside facing on any house is cosmetic and has no structural value. The vinyl or wood is nailed into the house, but each brick relies on the brick underneath to keep it from falling (blame that on Newton). So, if there are bricks that will be retained above the doorway, you need to install a lintel above the doorway before you remove all of the bricks for that doorway. After doing that you may proceed as in any doorway installation.