Sunday July 18, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated July 19, 2021: the number of vaccinations in Island Health shows as 1,011,597 as tallied over the past weekend]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Getting as close as possible to ‘normal’ during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic got a symbolic step closer on Vancouver Island on Friday, as the one-millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine administration was earmarked for publicity.
The setting was the COVID immunization clinic at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex in Sooke, where Island Health nurse Mary Dunn administered a COVID shot to Sooke area resident Kim Hill.
The vaccination numbers:
Now 78% of people age 12+ on Vancouver Island have received one dose, and 48% are fully vaccinated with two doses in the Island Health region. Now 62.5% or about two-thirds of the 984,523 total doses administered to July 16 in Island Health have been first doses (614,998), while 37.5% have been second doses (369,525). [Updated July 19, 2021: the number of vaccinations show as 1,011,597 in Island Health of which 394,672 are second doses — from the BC Centre of Disease Control dashboard on July 19.]
That’s pretty much on par with the profile for all of BC’s vaccination: first dose administered to 79.5% of persons age 12+ and two doses into the arms of 49.9% of British Columbians.
Most of the doses administered in Island Health have been Pfizer-BioNTech (707,883: 462,666 first & 245,217 second), followed by Moderna (244,243: 130,305 first & 113,938 second), then AstraZeneca (32,397: 22,027 first & 10,370 second).
Age profile for vaccination:
Who is getting the shot?
- The highest rates of vaccination in Island Health have been among the elderly age 70+ (due mostly to the focus on long-term care homes) as well as physicians and nurses. Both those categories have seen a 92% rate of first-dose immunization.
- That’s followed by 88% of all Island Health employees receiving their first dose, and 84% of people ages 50 to 69 (most of whom are likely still independent in the community).
- The vaccination rate for people age 30 to 49 is at 71%, with so far only 65% of people age 12 to 29 have received their first dose.
Three types of vaccine products:
Vaccines administered at the public health clinics in BC are either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, depending on the available supply in any given week. Supply is ample now, compared to earlier this year, through federal procurement channels. Pharmacies started by administering only AstraZeneca, then some Pfizer product has been available at some pharmacies for second doses.
All vaccine products administered in Canada have been approved by Health Canada. So far, that’s for people age 12 years and older who can get their first dose anytime. Teens age 12 to 17 can get vaccinated by themselves, or with a parent or other trusted adult.
Children under age 12 are not being vaccinated in Canada yet (Health Canada has not yet approved any vaccines for that age group), but they can still acquire and spread the infection. This is important to consider as part of a return to ‘normal’ in society and the economy going forward.
Edging closer to full re-opening:
The BC Restart plan to emerge from the pandemic range of sector and social activity restrictions has four stages or steps. As of July 1 the province is now in Step 3.
The biggest opening (and risk) is with Step 4 which is set to start no earlier than September 7 (if more than 70% of the age 18+ population has been vaccinated with a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and there are low COVID-19 case counts and low COVID-19 hospitalizations). Things for social interaction will be pretty much back to normal, other than the use of masks in public indoor settings being “a personal choice”.
Movement between all the steps is based on the percentage of population that is vaccinated with a first dose, along with stable case counts and COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Steps 1 and 2 are complete. On May 25 the restart commenced gradually with Step 1, toward re-establishing fuller social connections, businesses and activities (that step required 60% of the 18+ population to be vaccinated with dose 1). That lasted through June 14.
At June 15, Step 2 ran its short course through June 30. The criteria for Step 2 was at least 65% of the 18+ population vaccinated with dose 1, along with declining case counts and COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Workplaces open & sports will have crowds:
The Step 4 level allows for a return to normal personal gatherings and social contact for personal gatherings. For organized gatherings there will be increased capacity. Workplaces will be fully reopened; to operate, businesses will continue to follow communicable disease prevention guidance. For sports, competition will return when following communicable disease prevention guidance with an increase in outdoor and indoor spectators. Canada-wide recreational travel will be allowed.
The criteria for moving to Step 4 is more than 70% of the age 18+ population being vaccinated with a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (a level that has already been achieved), along with low case counts and low COVID-19 hospitalizations. So far, that seems well on track. As well, the public health guidance for Step 4 (no sooner than September 7, 2021) is:
- Masks in public indoor settings a personal choice
- Normal social contact
- If you or anyone in your family feels sick stay home and get tested immediately
