The push to vaccinate New Westminster residents seems to have stalled – with just 63% of adults having their booster dose and 67% of children fully vaccinated.
The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows almost no movement on the vaccination front in New Westminster for the second week in a row.
As of March 8, 63% of eligible adults (aged 18+) in New West had received their third dose of vaccine – ahead of the B.C. rate of 58%, but up just a smidgen from 62% last week.
Likewise, vaccination for children has also stalled out: 67% of children now have two doses of Pfizer pediatric vaccine, just like last week. Even second doses for the 5-11 age group have shown little change since last week, inching up to 39% from 37%.
Among older youth, two-dose vaccination rates are high – 91% in the12-17 age group – but the booster-shot campaign isn't gaining momentum quickly. Third-dose rates have inched up from 41% last week to 42% this week.
The third-dose rate for younger adults (18-49) climbed just a little, from 54% to 55%, but rates for the older age groups have stalled: for 50+, it's 73%; for 70+, it's 81%.
For first and second doses, New Westminster's vaccination rates have long since plateaued 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, 98% have a first dose of vaccine, while 96% have two doses.
How to get your COVID-19 shot in New Westminster
For New Westminster residents, the closest clinics currently offering immunization appointments are the Burnaby testing and immunization centre at BCIT and the Coquitlam clinic at the Coquitlam Central station park-and-ride. You can check out a full list of clinic locations and hours at the Fraser Health website.
First, second and third doses can also be obtained at participating community pharmacies; you can find options near you when scheduling an appointment in the B.C. booking system. To find out all the details about how to register for vaccination, visit the B.C. government's Get Vaccinated website.
What are vaccination rates like in New Westminster?
Here's how vaccination rates look across the board (last week's numbers in brackets):
First dose:
5-11: 67% (67%)
5+: 94% (94%)
12-17: 95% (95%)
18+: 96% (96%)
18-49: 98% (98%)
50+: 93% (93%)
70+: 94% (94%)
Second dose:
5-11: 39% (37%)
5+: 91% (91%)
12-17: 91% (91%)
18+: 94% (94%)
18-49: 96% (96%)
50+: 92% (91%)
70+: 92% (92%)
Third dose:
12-17: 42% (41%)
5+: 58% (58%)
18+: 63% (62%)
18-49: 55% (54%)
50+: 73% (73%)
70+: 81% (81%)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
