New Westminster is among the most fully vaccinated places in B.C., according to the latest B.C. Centre for Disease Control data.
The city is among the top 10 local health areas in the province when it comes to the percentage of its eligible population, aged 12 and up, that has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. (There are 87 local health areas in British Columbia.)
New Westminster's 82% fully vaccinated rate for people aged 12 and up puts it second only to Delta (at 84%) in the Fraser Health region, which spans the territory from Burnaby to Boston Bar. The Vancouver Coastal and Island health regions boast the most-vaccinated locales in B.C., with the Central Coast leading the way at 89% and Saanich following at 87%. (See complete list below.)
Despite that success, however, New Westminster's vaccination rates have been showing signs of plateauing over the past couple of weeks.
For first doses, the city now has 89% of its population immunized at all age groups – 12+, 18+ and 50+. Last week, those age groups stood at 88%, 88% and 89% respectively, while the week before showed rates of 87%, 87% and 88%.
For second doses, New Westminster now has 85% of its 50+ population immunized, the same as last week. The rate for the 18+ group is holding steady at 82%, while the 12+ rate crept from 81% last week to this week's 82%. Two weeks ago, rates stood at 84% for 50+, and 80% for both 18+ and 12+.
THE TOP-10 LIST
These are the local health areas with the highest two-dose vaccination rates for population aged 12 and up:
Central Coast: 89%
Saanich: 87%
Vancouver Northeast: 86%
Vancouver Midtown: 86%
North Vancouver: 85%
Greater Victoria: 84%
Delta: 84%
Vancouver South: 83%
Vancouver City Centre: 83%
New Westminster: 82%
Vancouver Westside: 82%
– percentages based on B.C. Centre for Disease Control surveillance data as of Sept. 7 (reported Sept. 8)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
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