More than half the adults in New Westminster have now received their booster dose.
As of Feb. 8, 56% of eligible adults (18+) had received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. That's up from 49% the previous week.
The latest number marks the first time that New Westminster's third-dose vaccination rate has exceeded B.C.'s overall rate; as of Feb. 8, 53.3% of B.C. adults had received their third dose. Until this week, New West had lagged behind the provincial average since the third-dose rollout began for B.C.'s general adult population.
The third-dose rate continues to climb for all age groups in New Westminster. For adults aged 70+, the third-dose vaccination rate is now 80%, up from 79% last week. For 50+, it's 70%, up from 66% last week. For the 18-to-49 age group, it's now 45%, up from 36% last week.
Booster doses for the 12-to-17 age group have just begun rolling out, and New West is now at 9%.
For first and second doses, New Westminster's vaccination rates have largely plateaued – but at rates higher than 90% across the board. (See data below.)
The most vaccinated age group in the city remains the younger adults. Among the 18-to-49 group, a whopping 98% now have a first dose of vaccine, while 96% have two doses (up from 95% last week).
The least vaccinated age group, of course, are the five-to-11-year-olds – who only became eligible for first doses on Nov. 29. So far, 65% of that age group have received a first dose. Second doses for that age group began Jan. 24; so far, just 10% of New Westminster children have received their second shot.
Still need a shot?
For those who remain without first and second doses, shots are available on a drop-in basis at the Anvil Centre vaccination clinic (777 Columbia St.). You can check out a full list of clinic locations and hours at the Fraser Health website.
Booster doses, however, are only available by appointment. To find out all the details about how to register for vaccination, visit the B.C. government's Get Vaccinated website.
How many New Westminster residents are vaccinated?
Here's how vaccination rates look across the board (last week's numbers in brackets):
First dose:
5-11: 65% (63%)
12+: 96% (95%)
12-17: 94% (94%)
18+: 96% (96%)
18-49: 98% (98%)
50+: 93% (93%)
70+: 94% (94%)
Second dose:
5-11: 10% (3%)* second doses for this age group started on Nov. 24
12+: 94% (93%)
12-17: 91% (90%)
18+: 94% (93%)
18-49: 96% (95%)
50+: 91% (91%)
70+: 92% (92%)
Third dose:
12-17: 9%
12+: 54% (47%)
18+: 56% (49%)
18-49: 45% (36%)
50+: 70% (66%)
70+: 80% (79%)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
