New Westminster is lagging slightly behind the provincial pace when it comes to third-dose COVID-19 vaccines.
As of Jan. 4, the province announced that 22.2% of eligible adults across B.C. had received their third dose. For New Westminster, the number of vaccinated adults (18+) stands at 19%, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Third-dose vaccination rates are moving up slowly across the age groups for New West residents. On Dec. 30, 69% of adults aged 70+ had received a third dose; as of Jan. 4, that number is up to 71%. For adults aged 50+, the rate rose from 32% to 35% in the same time period.
The youngest adult age group, 18 to 49, has the lowest rate of third-dose vaccination, climbing from just 6% on Dec. 30 to 7% as of Jan. 4.
The province has just expanded its booster-dose rollout to include all adults in B.C., who should now be receiving invitations to book their third doses six months after their second shot.
A smaller group of British Columbians – including seniors, health-care workers, Indigenous adults, people designated as clinically extremely vulnerable and those who received two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine – were prioritized for booster shots in advance of the main rollout.
A total of 710 locations in the province, including both vaccine clinics and pharmacies, are now offering booster-dose appointments.
As of Jan. 5, a search of the booster-dose booking system revealed just two locations in New Westminster that are offering third doses: the all-ages vaccine clinic at Anvil Centre (which is reopening but is solidly booked through January) and the Wal-Mart pharmacy in Queensborough.
Health Minister Adrian Dix, during the province's Tuesday COVID-19 briefing, said more vaccination sites – particularly pharmacies – are coming online daily around the province.
Still need your COVID-19 booster dose?
In order to be invited to book a third dose, B.C. residents must first be registered in the Get Vaccinated system. If you're registered and haven't yet received an invite, check out all the information at the government's booster shot info page or call 1-833-838-2323.
– with files from Tyler Orton, Glacier Media
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
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