The demand for vaccinations against COVID-19 seems to be whittling away, but it appears Port Moody residents are seeking more booster doses than anyone else.
The city is currently leading in two key eligible age groups when it comes to administering a third vaccine against the virus, including school-aged children since the shot became available to that group on Feb. 1.
As of this publication (March 23), nearly 50 per cent of eligible Port Moody kids aged 12 to 17 have been immunized with a third dose, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
That marks a 10 per cent increase in the past month — the highest jump of any other community across Fraser Health.
It's also higher than the Tri-Cities' combined triple-vaccination average of 41 per cent.
Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam teens round out Fraser Health's top five at 40 and 39 per cent rates respectively.
Port Moody also holds a 56 per cent triple-vaccination rate among those aged 18 to 49.
Meanwhile, Tri-City kids aged five to 11 sit at a 42 per cent average for second doses against COVID-19. Those shots became available for kids on Jan. 24.
Port Moody leads all municipalities in Fraser Health in that category and is above the 50 per cent threshold.
Combined, the Tri-Cities hold 92 and 89 per cent single- and double-vaccination rates against COVID-19 for those five years and older eligible to get immunized.
The latest BCCDC surveillance numbers — collected between March 15 and 21, 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: One
- Six per cent positivity rate
- 65 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
- 71 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Four
- 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
- 90 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: Two
- Seven per cent positivity rate
- 62 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
- 87 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: Two
- Eight per cent positivity rate
- 59 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
- 74 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Case rate: Three
- 13 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
- 89 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 76 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
VACCINE CLINICS
Despite the downsizing of vaccination clinics across the Lower Mainland, there are still two places in the Tri-Cities where residents can get inoculated against COVID-19.
Under reduced operating hours, the Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station's park-and-ride overflow lot remains as an immunization and testing centre for Fraser Health:
- 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
Since March 14, the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.) officially began its services as a children's multi-vaccination clinic.
Parents looking to get their kids immunized as young as four months old 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
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.
FREE RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
Today, B.C. pharmacies started providing free antigen COVID-19 tests to those older than 18 years old.
Eligible individuals will be able to pick up one kit containing five tests every 28 days. They will need to show their personal health number, and other identification.
The B.C. government's plan is to continue to lower the age of those eligible in further tranches.
As of March 17, the province has shipped almost 7.6 million tests to pharmacy distributors, with more than 2.3 million rapid tests dispensed through more than 1,300 participating pharmacies.
- with files from Glen Korstrom, Business In Vancouver
