New Westminster appears to have reached the saturation point for COVID-19 vaccination – even for third-dose boosters.
The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows little change on the vaccination front in New Westminster over last week. As of March 1, 62% of eligible adults (aged 18+) in New West had received their third dose of vaccine – ahead of the B.C. rate of 57.7%, but unchanged since last week.
The most movement on the booster-shot front came in the 12-to-17 age group, which is now up to 41%, compared to 38% last week.
Other age groups saw even smaller increases this week. The rate for adults aged 70+ crept to 81% after sitting at 80% for three weeks running. Among adults aged 50+, this week's third-dose rate is 73%, just a smidgen up from 72% last week. Among younger adults (18-49), it's climbed just a little, from 53% to 54%.
For first and second doses, New Westminster's vaccination rates have 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% now have a first dose of vaccine, while 96% have two doses. The 12-to-17 age group is also exceptionally high for first doses, at 95%, but that number tapers to 91% for second doses.
The least vaccinated age group is the five-to-11-year-old population, who became eligible for first doses on Nov. 29. So far, 67% of that age group have received a first dose – a number that seems to have essentially stalled, with 66% for the past two weeks and 65% the week before. Second doses for that age group began Jan. 24; so far, 37% of New Westminster children have received their second shot – an increase from 33% last week.
Here's how to get your COVID-19 vaccination
B.C. is scaling back its mass immunization clinics for adults and converting many of them for children only. New Westminster's main vaccination clinic, at Anvil Centre, is now showing appointments for five-to-11-year-olds only.
For New Westminster adults, the closest clinics currently reflecting appointments are the Burnaby testing and immunization centre at BCIT, the Coquitlam clinic at the Coquitlam Central station park-and-ride, and the Surrey North clinic near Central City mall. 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% (66%)
5+: 94% (94%)
12-17: 95% (95%)
18+: 96% (96%)
18-49: 98% (98%)
50+: 93% (93%)
70+: 94% (94%)
Second dose:
5-11: 37% (33%)
5+: 91% (90%)
12-17: 91% (91%)
18+: 94% (94%)
18-49: 96% (96%)
50+: 91% (91%)
70+: 92% (92%)
Third dose:
12-17: 41% (38%)
5+: 58% (57%)
18+: 62% (62%)
18-49: 54% (53%)
50+: 73% (72%)
70+: 81% (80%)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
