The Tri-Cities is above the provincial average when it comes to the population that's chosen to get a booster vaccine against COVID-19.
The region, as of March 31, currently has a 57 per cent three-dose rate against the virus among all eligible residents above the age of five.
According to the latest data available by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra has the third highest sub-rate across Fraser Health at 59 per cent, while Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam are each below the region's median at 56 per cent.
The stats come a day after B.C. announced a new spring campaign that's set to offer fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to those who are deemed "at risk."
Beginning as early as late May, those aged 70 years and older, those in long-term care homes and Indigenous people over 55 will be eligible for the second round of booster doses.
"It may be that we will recommend a booster dose for more people," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry during a news conference on Tuesday (April 5), adding she does not foresee offering boosters to the general population in the near future.
"It could be that we’ll need maybe an annual booster."
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) said provinces should aim to have those second booster doses in the arms of recipients six months after their previous shot.
B.C. provided most booster doses to the general population in January and February, while those considered to be more at risk received their jabs in the weeks prior.
The Tri-Cities' current triple-vaccination rate is just a one per cent increase from 56 per cent in the previous report.
The steady week-to-week bump is likely a result of the whittling demand for booster shots as B.C. has already lifted its mask mandate for public indoor spaces and by personal choice.
However, the region still has some of Fraser Health's highest average rates for three doses across the board:
- 42 per cent among eligible children aged 12–17
- Boosters became available to this group on Feb. 1
- 63 per cent among eligible residents aged 18 and older
- 74 per cent among eligible residents aged 50 and older
- 82 per cent among eligible residents aged 70 and older
B.C. has a combined 53.5 per cent triple-vaccination rate, as reported by public health on Tuesday.
The latest BCCDC surveillance numbers — collected between March 25 and 31, 2022 — are as follows. Case rates represent new cases per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area:
North Coquitlam
- Case rate: Two
- 11 per cent positivity rate
- 66 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 72 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Three
- 15 per cent positivity rate
- 63 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 94 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 74 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: One
- Nine per cent positivity rate
- 63 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 73 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: Three
- 11 per cent positivity rate
- 60 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 87 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 75 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Case rate: Three
- 12 per cent positivity rate
- 70 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 77 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
VACCINE CARD ENDING SOON
B.C. indoor ticketed events and certain businesses will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as of later this week.
On Friday (April 8) at 12:01 a.m., the province's vaccine card program is set to end — nearly seven months after it was implemented on Sept. 13, 2021, in response to the then state of the pandemic — and won't need to be presented at non-essential events that include concerts, sporting events and restaurants.
Instead, businesses will transition from COVID-19 safety plans to communicable disease plans.
However, public health officials are asking residents to keep the B.C. vaccine card as the program may still be needed in the future.
Henry explained some places, events and venues will be able to make the call on whether they want to require proof of vaccination in order to grant access to patrons.
She said some businesses that find they might get too crowded, for example, may opt to put a proof of vaccine policy in place for access.
Those businesses, like "community restaurants" or small theatres or museums, must "due its own due diligence" and have a plan in place to accommodate guests who are not vaccinated. For example, a restaurant would need to offer take-out as an alternative to dining-in.
VACCINE CLINICS
And those who haven't received a vaccine and are still interested in receiving one can do so at two Tri-City locations.
Coquitlam is still the hub in the Tri-Cities for those looking to get inoculated against COVID-19.
The demand appears to be slowly fading away, but Fraser Health is keeping some of its major immunization and testing centres open for the time being.
The Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station's park-and-ride overflow lot has reduced its operating hours as an immunization and testing centre:
- 2900 Barnet Hwy.
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Entrance off Mariner Way – east side of Rona. Proceed down the ramp and turn right
- The address will direct you to the main lot on the left but COVID-19 Services are located in the overflow lot to the right
- Do not cut through the Rona parking lot. Please follow the signs
Anyone seeking a vaccine against COVID-19 is encouraged to register via B.C.'s GetVaccinated online portal or call 1-833-838-2323.
You can also visit the province's website for more information on its COVID-19 immunization plan.
As of March 14, kids as young as four months old have had the chance to receive shots at a multi-vaccination clinic inside the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.).
Parents looking to get their children immunized can visit the site to receive one of several vaccines, including:
- COVID-19 vaccine
- For eligible children and adolescents aged five and older
- Tdap-IPV vaccine
- Protects against tetanus diphtheria, whooping cough and polio
- MMRV vaccine
- Protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
- with files from Tyler Orton, Business In Vancouver, and Lindsay William-Ross, Vancouver Is Awesome
