Thursday May 6, 2021 | LOWER MAINLAND, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Today Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry led early in her COVID-19 update with the news that BC has seen its first case of a blood clot happening as a result of someone receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. The woman is 49-years-old (in Vancouver Coastal Health on the mainland) and is recovering.
Throughout the pandemic, Vancouver Island has experienced a less acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4,784 total COVID cases to date are 3.6% of the BC provincial total.
There are presently 240 active cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, with 17 of those new today.
Presently 15 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 (five of those in ICU). There have been 230 hospitalizations in Island Health to date.
There have been 38 deaths on Vancouver Island due to COVID-19. The most recently was announced earlier this week, on Monday May 3.
Vaccinations to date:
So far, 321,425 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered by Island Health (11,474 of those were second doses). Of those, the majority were mRNA-type vaccinations (237,670 Pfizer and 65,752 Moderna); the viral vector type AstraZeneca vaccine product has been administered to 18,003 people so far on Vancouver Island.
COVID in schools:
Schools have remained open in BC during the pandemic (except for during the first wave in mid-March to mid-May in 2020). Dr Henry continues to insist — with some measure of evidence — that schools are safer for children than being in the general community.
Presently eight schools on Vancouver Island are listed as having COVID exposures, with three of those in the west shore (SD62): Dunsmuir Middle, Ruth King Elementary and View Royal Elementary.
To date, 343 children under the age of 10 have tested positive for COVID-19 on Vancouver Island (compared to 7,209 throughout BC), while 563 in the 10 to 19 age cohort have tested positive (13,909 throughout BC).
Clinics & pharmacies:
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone in BC. Registration to open to all eligible British Columbians (adults age 18+ and others). Presently in the age-based program people in their mid-40s are getting booked appointments. | Register to get vaccinated (government link)
The government-run clinics administer primarily the Pfizer and Moderna products. Pharmacies are generally carrying the AstraZeneca product.
