One-quarter of New Westminster teens still aren't fully vaccinated, according to the latest B.C. Centre for Disease Control data.
As of Sept. 21, 76% of youth aged 12 to 17 had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. (That's inched up from 75% as of Sept. 9.) But 86% of that age group has received at least one dose.
New Westminster's youth vaccination rates still compare favourably to other areas of B.C.; of the 87 local health areas in the province, just 12 have higher rates of full vaccination among 12- to 17-year-olds. The B.C. leader for that age group is Vancouver – which has hit 84% full vaccination in Vancouver Midtown and 83% in Vancouver Westside and Vancouver Northeast.
Among people aged 18 to 49, 83% of New Westminster residents are fully vaccinated and 91% have received their first dose.
Second-dose vaccination rates are continuing to climb in New Westminster – albeit very slowly.
Among all people aged 12+ and 18+, second-dose vaccination is now at 84%, up from 83% the previous week. For the 50+ age group, second-dose vaccination is at 86%, the same as last week.
First-dose vaccination rates have reached 90% for people aged 12+, 18+ and 50+, up from 89% the previous week.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.
