New Westminster's COVID-19 vaccination rates are continuing to inch upwards – but its immunization success with adults aged 50+ seems to be slowing down.
With the closure of the Anvil Centre mass immunization clinic earlier this month, New West residents in search of vaccine must now rely on pop-up clinics in the community or travel outside the city. Nonetheless, B.C. Centre for Disease Control stats today show immunization rates are continuing to climb – albeit slowly.
First-dose vaccination numbers have largely stalled, with vaccination rates for the 18+ age group (87%) and the 50+ age group (88%) remaining the same as last week. Among the 12+ group, the first-dose number crept from 86% last week to 87% this week (as of Aug. 17).
Second-dose rates, however, are moving somewhat more quickly. Among the 12+ age group, 78% have now received their second dose, compared to 76% last week. For the 18+ group, it's 79% (compared to 77% last week).
The second-dose rate for 50+, however, has stalled at 83% as of Aug. 17.
New Westminster continues to be among the more-vaccinated communities in Fraser Health (the area that stretches from Burnaby to Boston Bar), but it's dropping somewhat relative to other municipalities.
Among the older, fully vaccinated population (50+, two doses), New Westminster has now fallen behind five other municipalities: Delta (88%), South Surrey/White Rock (85%) and the three-way-tied Tri-Cities, Surrey and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows (84%). New West sits tied with Langley at 83%.
For the 18+ age group, it remains in a three-way tie for second with Tri-Cities and Surrey, behind Delta at 81%. Likewise, with the 12+ age group, it remains in a tie with South Surrey/White Rock and Tri-Cities, behind Delta at 80%.
Delta (the municipality, not the COVID-19 variant strain that's wreaking havoc in B.C.) has long been the regional leader in vaccination rates. It continues to have two mass immunization clinics in operation (though its North Delta location is set to close at the end of the month).
No new neighbourhood pop-up clinics have been announced for New Westminster as of this post, but watch the Fraser Health website for new announcements through the week.
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