Is B.C.'s vaccine card system influencing more Tri-City residents to get vaccinated?
Maybe, maybe not.
Regardless, new statistics from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) — collected between Sept. 21 and 27 — are showing slight increases in immunization rates across the region, primarily for first doses against COVID-19.
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra is now the second surveillance neighbourhood to reach 90 per cent among eligible residents who've received their first jab, joining southwest Coquitlam at that threshold.
Altogether, the average first-dose vaccination rate across the Tri-Cities is 89 per cent.
Meanwhile, the double-dose average has barely moved in the last week, now at 83.6 per cent among eligible residents with two vaccine jabs.
The new data is broken down as follows. "Case rates" represent new cases per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area:
North Coquitlam
- Case rate: Five
- Two per cent positivity rate
- 88 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 84 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Six
- Two per cent positivity rate
- 90 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 84 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: Nine
- Three per cent positivity rate
- 89 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 83 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: 12
- Four per cent positivity rate
- 88 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 82 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Case rate: Seven
- Three per cent positivity rate
- 90 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 85 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
VACCINE CARDS FULLY REQUIRED
As of Monday (Sept. 27), Tri-City residents have been encouraged to download, print or request a paper copy of their B.C. Vaccine Card when accessing certain events and businesses.
The proof-of-vaccine program came into effect across the province on Sept. 13.
The QR code format requires eligible people aged 12 years and older to show proof they've received at least one dose against the virus to enter restaurants with liquor and/or table service, gyms, movie theatres, indoor ticketed sporting events and other settings deemed “non-essential.”
A two-week grace period that allowed patrons to show the paper immunization card they received when getting a jab(s) to gain entry into what are called "discretionary" places ended on Monday and is no longer permitted, the B.C. government says.
Beginning Oct. 24, people will be required to have both doses of the vaccine.
"More than 3.1 million British Columbians have already received their BC Vaccine Card, allowing them to attend events and indoor recreational settings more safely," said Health Minister Adrian Dix in a statement last Saturday (Sept. 25).
Earlier this week, Dix tweeted a chart that showed that of the 141 people at the time were admitted into critical care or ICUs after testing positive for COVID-19, or 85.8 per cent, are unvaccinated. Another eight, or 5.7 per cent, were partially vaccinated, and 12, or 8.5 per cent, were fully vaccinated.
Of the 35 people in those ICUs who were younger than 50 years old, only one was fully vaccinated, according to Dix's statistics.
"The smartest, safest, and soundest decision right now for everyone eligible is to get vaccinated," he said. "We encourage all British Columbians to get their shot and download their BC Vaccine Card today."
The province says businesses can scan people's vaccine card QR code using the BC Vaccine Card Verifier App from the Google Play and Apple App stores, or they can “visually verify the person's proof of vaccination.”
For more information on where a vaccine card is needed and to download one, you can visit the B.C. government's proof-of-vaccination page.
