Almost half of New Westminster's 70-and-up crowd have now had their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The third-dose vaccination rate stands at 47% for those aged 70+ as of Nov. 30, according to the latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. That's up from 32% last week.
For the 50+ group, the third-dose rate is now at 18%, up from 13% last week. For the younger adults (aged 18 to 49), it remains at 2%.
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).
Third doses are also being made available in 2021 for those who received AstraZeneca for both their first and second doses. Those shots are being 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.
For first and second doses, local vaccination rates have largely plateaued – albeit at high levels. As was the case last week, 91% of the city's eligible population (aged 12+) is now considered fully vaccinated with two doses.
Some numbers are still inching upwards, including the first-dose rate for the 18-to-49 group, which has now hit 96% (up from 95% last week).
Second-dose rates for the younger age groups have also moved up: for 12-17, it's at 87% this week (up from 86%), and for 18-49 it's at 93% (up from 92%).
B.C. is also now rolling out the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. Invitations to book appointments started on Monday; as of the latest data, however, not enough New Westminster kids had been vaccinated to reflect in the stats.
To find out more about vaccinations for children, check the B.C. government's website.
Vaccination rates in New Westminster as of Nov. 30, 2021
(last week's numbers in brackets)
First doses:
5-11: 0%
12+: 94% (94%)
12-17: 92% (92%)
18+: 94% (94%)
18-49: 96% (95%)
50+: 92% (92%)
70+: 93% (93)
Second doses:
12+: 91% (91%)
12-17: 87% (86%)
18+: 91% (91%)
18-49: 93% (92%)
50+: 90% (90%)
70+: 91% (91%)
Third doses:
12+: 9% (6%)
12-17: 0% (*boosters are not being given for this age group at this point)
18+: 9% (7%)
18-49: 2% (2%)
50+: 18% (13%)
70+: 47% (32%)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
