New Westminster's COVID vaccination rates have all but stopped increasing – but the city is still ahead of the B.C. curve.
The latest numbers from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, as of April 18, show just tiny gains in vaccination rates over the week before.
The only movement at all – slight as it was – came in vaccinations for young people. The percentage of children aged five to 11 with two doses of vaccine went up from 52% to 53%, while the percentage of youth aged 12 to 17 with three doses crept from 47 to 48%.
Otherwise, every number stayed the same as it was on April 10.
New Westminster continues to be a highly vaccinated community when it comes to first and second doses, with all age groups 12+ having hit at least 92% vaccination.
Despite the relatively low rates of pediatric vaccination, New Westminster remains the leader in the Fraser Health region (Burnaby to Hope), with 68% of children having one dose and 53% having two. Provincewide, the pediatric vaccination rate is just 57% for one dose and 41% for two.
Booster-dose rates remain low, however, with just 57% of adults aged 18 to 49 having had their third shot. That percentage rises to 75% among those 50+ and 82% among those 70+.
New Westminster's vaccination rates are higher than the overall B.C. numbers.
Provincewide, 94% of British Columbians aged 18+ have one dose, 92% have two doses and just 60% have three doses. Locally, those numbers are 96% one dose, 94% two doses, and 65% three doses.
(See numbers at bottom of story for full age-group breakdowns.)
B.C. recently announced plans for fourth doses, or second boosters, for a small group of high-risk individuals, but those numbers are not yet being published.
How to get a COVID booster dose in B.C.
Everyone 12 and over who has received their first two doses of vaccine is eligible for a third dose six months after their second. (That interval is reduced to eight weeks for anyone who is pregnant.)
Fourth doses are also available for a small group of high-risk individuals: residents of long-term care, Indigenous people aged 55+, and all adults 70+.Those who are eligible for the fourth dose (second booster) can get it six months after their third dose (first booster).
You can find all the details, ensure you're registered and book appointments through the B.C. Get Vaccinated website.
What are vaccination rates like in New Westminster?
Here's how vaccination rates look across the board as of April 18 (numbers as of April 10 in brackets):
First dose:
5-11: 68% (68%)
5+: 95% (95%)
12-17: 96% (96%)
18+: 96% (96%)
18-49: 99% (99%)
50+: 93% (93%)
70+: 95% (95%)
Second dose:
5-11: 53% (52%)
5+: 92% (92%)
12-17: 92% (92%)
18+: 94% (94%)
18-49: 97% (97%)
50+: 92% (92%)
70+: 92% (92%)
Third dose:
12-17: 48% (47%)
5+: 60% (60%)
18+: 65% (65%)
18-49: 57% (57%)
50+: 75% (75%)
70+: 82% (82%)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
