New data is showing minor increases in vaccination rates against COVID-19 in most Tri-City communities.
Coquitlam stood out this week as the municipality saw an uptick in first, second and third doses against the virus across three key categories collected and published today (March 30) by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
After weeks at a standstill, second shots bumped one per cent in the southwest and southeast regions to 91 and 88 per cent respectively among all eligible residents aged five years and older.
There's now a 72 per cent booster-dose average among those over 50 in northern Coquitlam, as well as a small single-shot jump to 92 per cent in the same neighbourhood.
Coquitlam, as a whole, maintains a 56 per cent triple-vaccination rate against COVID-19 among all eligible residents.
Meanwhile, Port Coquitlam has finally reached a significant milestone.
The city now has a 60 per cent average rate among children aged five to 11 who've received at least one dose against COVID-19.
It's the final sub-region in the Tri-Cities to land or surpass that plateau since second inoculations become available for kids on Jan. 24.
The new numbers are also released nearly three weeks after B.C. lifted its mask mandate for public places, but some are urging the provincial health officer to reconsider for the safety of others.
B.C.’s human rights commissioner Kasari Govender has penned a plea to Dr. Bonnie Henry, suggesting it was too soon to lift the province’s mask mandate.
She believes it's important to ensure that all actions respect the human rights of all people, including those who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, such are Indigenous, racialized people, older people and those with disabilities, including those who are immunocompromised.
"Lifting the mask mandate will do disproportionate harm to those who are already marginalized, forcing many to withdraw from activities of daily life in an effort to protect their health, and reducing the capacity to enjoy their human rights to their full extent," she wrote.
"It is understandable that after two years of the global pandemic, many people are tired of wearing masks. But the requirement to wear a mask in indoor public spaces is a comparatively minor infringement on an individual’s autonomy and an inconvenience in exercising one’s rights."
The latest BCCDC surveillance numbers — collected between March 22 and 28, 2022 — 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: One
- Five per cent positivity rate
- 66 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
- 88 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 72 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: Two
- 11 per cent positivity rate
- 63 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
- 74 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: Two
- 14 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
- 73 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: Three
- 13 per cent positivity rate
- 60 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
- 87 per cent of 5+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 75 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Case rate: Two
- 11 per cent positivity rate
- 70 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
- 77 per cent of 50+ population vaccinated with a third dose
CAN I STILL GET A VACCINE?
Coquitlam is still the hub in the Tri-Cities for those looking to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The demand appears to be slowly fading away, but Fraser Health is keeping some of its major immunization and testing centres open for the time-being.
The Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station's park-and-ride overflow lot has reduced it's operating hours as an immunization and testing centre:
- 2900 Barnet Hwy.
- 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
Since March 14, the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.) has been servicing as a children's multi-vaccination clinic.
Parents looking to get their kids immunized as young as four months old can visit the site to receive one of several vaccines, including:
- 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
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.
- with files from Cindy White, Castanet
