More than half of elementary-school-aged children in New Westminster are still not fully vaccinated as students return to classrooms following March break – and as Omicron continues to make itself felt.
The latest data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control shows that, as of March 22, just 45% of children aged five to 11 have received two doses of vaccine against COVID-19 – up a small amount from 42% the week before.
For first doses, New Westminster's pediatric vaccination rate has stalled out at 67% – meaning one-third of children in the city remain completely unvaccinated.
New Westminster's pediatric vaccination rates are the highest in Fraser Health, the region stretching from Burnaby to Hope and surrounding area. It remains tied with Burnaby in top spot for the region.
The region lags behind Vancouver Coastal Health and parts of Island Health, however.
The local health areas with the highest rates of pediatric vaccination are largely concentrated around urban centres in Vancouver and Victoria. B.C.'s highest pediatric vaccination rates can be found in Vancouver Midtown, with 80% first doses and 62% second doses; North Vancouver, with 78%/59%; Greater Victoria, with 77%/57%; Saanich Peninsula, at 76%/55%; and the Central Coast, with 86%/55%.
B.C.-wide, the first-dose rate of vaccination is 56%; for second doses, it's just 36% (as of March 25).
Among high-school-aged students, vaccination levels are much higher. In New Westminster, 95% of 12-to-17-year-olds have one dose of vaccine, and 92% have two doses. The campaign for third-dose boosters, however, has been slower; just 45% of this age group has received their third dose.
B.C.-wide, vaccination rates for youth stand at 89% for one dose, 85% for two doses and 33% for three doses.
School District 40 students returned to class following a two-week spring break on March 28 (with the exception of Skwo:wech Elementary School, where the return has been delayed by one day to allow for the move into the new school building).
Masks are now optional in classrooms.
Here's how to get your child vaccinated in B.C.
In order to be vaccinated, five-to-11-year-olds must first be registered in B.C.'s Get Vaccinated system, after which time an invitation will be sent (by text or email) to book an appointment.
You can find all the information online at B.C.'s pediatric vaccine page, or call the central vaccination line at 1-833-838-2323.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
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