B.C. health officials are reporting 600 new COVID-19 cases today, along with one more death in the province.
There were 39 new cases in Interior Health, with 394 in Fraser Health, 150 in Vancouver Coastal Health, nine in Northern Health, and eight on Vancouver Island.
There are now 5,887 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C., with 423 people in hospital, 141 in intensive care. Active cases are down 133 from yesterday, while the number of people in hospital has gone down by three. The number of people in ICU hasn’t changed.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says there have been 2,277,318 doses of a COVID vaccine administered in B.C., 115,295 of which are second doses. Earlier in the day, the province said that over 50 per cent of adults in the province have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine.
“We’ve made extraordinary progress together over the past few weeks toward everyone getting their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” Premier John Horgan said, in a statement. “COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, but this milestone gives us hope of better days ahead. We have to keep going.”
As reported by NL News, during a town hall meeting hosted by Thompson Rivers University this week, Dr. Henry said all B.C. adults will be eligible to book COVID vaccine appointment by next week. Now, the province says people 30 and older will be able to book their vaccine appointments later today.
“Text and email invitations will be going out shortly, so take two minutes to get yourself registered,” the province said, in a statement.
“The vaccines that are approved and in use here in B.C. require two doses. This is why even if you have already had your first dose, it is important to register on the Get Vaccinated site. This will ensure a second dose is reserved for you.”
There are now 129,524 people who are considered to have recovered from COVID-19 about 93 per cent of the total 137,223 cases in British Columbia.
B.C. holding remaining AstraZeneca vaccine doses for second shots
B.C. is also holding all remaining AstraZeneca vaccines for when people need to get their second doses.
“Given the limited availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine supply, we are holding all remaining AstraZeneca vaccine for dose-two booster immunizations. Existing pharmacy bookings will proceed, but no additional appointments will be accepted at this time,” Dr. Henry and Health Minster Adrian Dix, said in a statement.
“We are also awaiting the findings of studies currently underway on interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. This will help determine our approach and options for second doses.”
In B.C., approximately 269,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered with one case of a blood clot reported. The woman, in her 40s, is now recovering.
Earlier in the day, Dix said the province is expecting to get more AstraZeneca vaccines, noting a “significant amount” of the vaccines were made available in both Interior and Island Health in the last week.
That is as several other provinces including Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec announced new restrictions on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine this week.
In B.C., the AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for people 30 and older in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior, and in the north.
Dix also added that B.C. officials are working on a plan to give the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 12 to 18 now that Health Canada has approved its use.
– With files from The Canadian Press
