Port Moody continues to lead the Tri-Cities among eligible vaccinations against COVID-19, but the regional average is nearing a plateau weeks in the making.
As of today (June 1), nearly half of eligible adolescents aged 12 to 17 have elected to receive a booster dose against the virus since it became available in early February.
The Tri-Cities sits at exactly 45 per cent in the category, as of May 23, per the latest data published by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The province switched to an age interval system after it was given priority to specific groups — seniors, Indigenous people over 18 and the immuno-compromised — before shots were administered to the general public.
In Port Moody, the municipality's vicinity, which also includes Anmore and Belcarra, officially crossed the 50 per cent mark as of May 16, now at exactly 51 per cent today.
This represents a near 10 per cent increase in the city since the middle of March when local teens reached just over 40 per cent.
However, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam have seen little movement the last several weeks as youth in the communities are at 45 and 43 per cent triple-vaccination averages respectively.
Port Moody's teen total is the fourth highest in all of B.C., behind North Vancouver (54 per cent), Vancouver (53 per cent) and Victoria (52 per cent).
As a whole, the Tri-Cities has seen other small movements on the vaccination front against COVID-19, including a bump in second shots for eligible residents aged five years and older in southwest Coquitlam.
The BCCDC's latest surveillance numbers 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: Three
- 18 per cent positivity rate
- 67 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
- 74 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Three
- 12 per cent positivity rate
- 64 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
- 92 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 76 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: Five
- 20 per cent positivity rate
- 64 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
- 75 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: Five
- 22 per cent positivity rate
- 61 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
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 76 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody–Anmore–Belcarra
- Case rate: Two
- 12 per cent positivity rate
- 71 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
- 78 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
On average, the Tri-Cities maintains 92 and 90 per cent single- and double-vaccination rates, as well as a 59 per cent median among eligible boosters — the fourth highest total in Fraser Health.
Vaccines for children
Parents and guardians wishing to get their child vaccinated against COVID-19 — and other viruses and diseases — can still visit a Coquitlam clinic to receive a shot.
A multi-vaccination clinic is also in place at the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.), giving parents and guardians with kids as young as four months old the chance to receive a number of different vaccinations.
This includes:
- 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
Meanwhile, all eligible Tri-City residents 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.
