Nearly one-third of New West's 70+ population has received a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine – and rates for first and second doses are continuing to inch ever-so-slowly upwards.
The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, as of Nov. 23, shows that 91% of eligible New Westminster residents (aged 12+) have now received two doses of vaccine.That's up from 90%, where it's been sitting for the past two weeks.
Second-dose vaccination rates stayed stable among young people aged 12 to 17, at 86%. But they inched upwards for adults, with the rate for 18-to-49-year-olds moving from 91 to 92% and for the 50+ crowd from 89 to 90%.
The BCCDC is now also reporting the rates for third-dose vaccination, as the province has begun its campaign to provide booster doses for all adults in B.C. So far, booster doses are being provided for people considered to be at higher risk (including people aged 70+, Indigenous people, health-care workers and those considered clinically extremely vulnerable).
In New West, 32% of adults aged 70+ have now received their booster dose. The rate stands at 13% for those 50+ and 2% for those aged 18 to 49.
New this week, the province is now also reporting that third doses will be made available this year for those who received AstraZeneca for both their first and second doses. Those shots will be made available based on the date of second doses, at about six months following the second dose.
Booster doses for the general population will be made available starting in January 2022.
You can get all the details about booster doses at the government's Get Vaccinated website.
B.C. is now getting set to roll out the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. It has announced that invitations to book appointments will be sent to registered families starting Monday, with appointments also starting Monday.
To find out more, check the B.C. government's website.
First doses:
12+: 94% (93%)
12-17: 92% (91%)
18+: 94% (94%)
18-49: 95% (95%)
50+: 92% (92%)
70+: 93% (no data available for last week)
Second doses:
12+: 91% (90%)
12-17: 86% (86%)
18+: 91% (90%)
18-49: 92% (91%)
50+: 90% (89%)
70+: 91% (no data available for last week)
Third doses:
12+: 6%
12-17: 0% (*boosters are not being given for this age group at this point)
18+: 7%
18-49: 2%
50+: 13%
70+: 32%
