It took one month for Tri-City residents of a certain age to bump just one per cent and reach a significant milestone in the vaccination efforts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regardless, they made it.
As of May 1, 75 per cent of eligible residents aged 50 years and older in the region have received a booster dose against the virus. The third vaccine started rolling out to B.C.'s general public back in January.
This is thanks to a pair of increases in the North Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam jurisdictions, at 73 and 76 per cent respectively, according to the latest data available by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The three-quarter average for that age group is the third highest in all of Fraser Health — behind Delta (78) and South Surrey–White Rock (77).
The BCCDC says the Tri-Cities remains at a 58 per cent triple-vaccination rate for all eligible residents aged 12 years and older.
As well, with the addition of kids, the region has finally eclipsed the 90 per cent double dose threshold against COVID-19 among those above the age of five since they were able to receive a second shot earlier this year.
The Tri-Cities', as its first-dose average remains unchanged at 92 per cent, is the fifth in Fraser Health to reach that plateau after Burnaby, New Westminster, Delta and Surrey.
The latest surveillance numbers are as follows. Case rates represent new cases per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area:
North Coquitlam
- Case rate: Three
- 16 per cent positivity rate
- 67 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 89 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 73 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Seven
- 31 per cent positivity rate
- 64 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 94 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 75 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: Two
- Nine per cent positivity rate
- 63 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 74 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: Four
- 18 per cent positivity rate
- 61 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 76 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody–Anmore–Belcarra
- Case rate: Five
- 24 per cent positivity rate
- 71 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 78 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Fewer COVID-19 patients in hospitals
On Thursday (May 5), B.C.'s latest COVID-19 stats available showed some promise for residents who may be dealing with harsher symptoms of the virus.
There are 550 COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals today, with 39 of those in ICUs, according to new British Columbia Centre for Disease Control data.
That is down from 570 COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals one week ago, when 47 of those were in ICUs, the BCCDC said on April 28.
These counts include people who went to hospital because of bad COVID-19 infections, and those who went to hospital for other reasons and then tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
Meanwhile, data for new infections has long been widely dismissed, and even provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has called it "not accurate."
This is because, in December, she started telling people who were vaccinated and had mild symptoms to not get tested and to simply self-isolate. She said, at the time, this was to increase testing capacity for those with more serious symptoms and those who are more vulnerable.
Nonetheless, the BCCDC said 2,283 new infections were detected in the week up to April 30. With 27,127 tests conducted, that works out to be an 8.42 per cent positive test rate.
In the week up until April 23, there were 26,923 tests said to be conducted, and 2,276 infections, for a nearly identical 8.45 per cent positive test rate.
In Coquitlam, Fraser Health is continuing to provide its service for any demand that is left for a vaccine against COVID-19.
The mass immunization and testing centre is still set up at Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station (2900 Barnet Hwy.) in the park-and-ride overflow lot.
Its operating hours are:
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Entrance off Mariner Way — east side of Rona. Proceed down the ramp and turn right
- The address will direct you to the main lot on the left but COVID-19 Services are located in the overflow lot to the right
- Do not cut through the Rona parking lot. Please follow the signs
Anyone seeking a vaccine against COVID-19 is encouraged to register via B.C.'s GetVaccinated online portal or call 1-833-838-2323.
You can also visit the province's website for more information on its COVID-19 immunization plan.
A multi-vaccination clinic is also in place at the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.), giving parents and guardians with kids as young as four months old the chance to receive a number of different vaccinations.
This includes:
- COVID-19 vaccine
- For eligible children and adolescents aged five and older
- Tdap-IPV vaccine
- Protects against tetanus diphtheria, whooping cough and polio
- MMRV vaccine
- Protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
- with files from Glen Korstrom, Business In Vancouver
