Eligible Tri-City children reach 87 per cent two-dose rate against COVID-19

A dozen Tri-City schools are currently listed for potential COVID-19 exposure

Double-dose vaccination rates against the virus among school-aged children reaches 87 per cent.

RiversideSecondaryOurLadyofFatimaCedarDriveElementary

[From top to bottom] Riverside Secondary, Our Lady of Fatima and Cedar Drive Elementary are schools within the Tri-Cities region.File photos/Edited by Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News

Students and staff at 12 Tri-City schools may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Fraser Health currently has a dozen institutions across Coquitlam (6) and Port Coquitlam (6) listed for potential exposure to the virus, including some as recent as last Wednesday (Nov. 24).

All but two facilities are associated with School District 43 (SD43).

Our Lady of Fatima — an independent school in Coquitlam — was recently put back on alert for last week, as well as École Des Pionniers in B.C.'s francophone district.

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is currently reporting 87 per cent of those in the region between 12 and 17 years old that have been inoculated with two doses against COVID-19.

Vaccination rates as of Monday (Nov. 29) are broken down by the BCCDC as follows:

North Coquitlam

92 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
88 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Southwest Coquitlam

90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
86 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Southeast Coquitlam

89 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
86 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Port Coquitlam

90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
86 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra

91 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
89 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

When an exposure event or lab-confirmed infection is found at Tri-City schools, Fraser Health says it follows rigorous steps:

Public health will investigate to determine if there were any potential close contacts within the school
If it is determined that there are close contacts within the school, public health will notify the school administrators and request information to assist with contact tracing and provide guidance on what steps should be taken
Public health may then:
- Recommend 14-day self-isolation if necessary
- Recommend self-monitoring for symptoms if necessary
- Provide follow-up recommendations if necessary
Schools will ensure students who are required to self-isolate are able to continue their educational program. Together, schools and public health officials will determine if any other actions are necessary
Parents, caregivers and families will be notified by public health if their child is determined to be a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person

If you don't receive a phone call or letter from public health, Fraser Health explains children can continue to go to school but should also be monitored for the virus' symptoms daily, including fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing or loss of sense of smell or taste.