BCCDC vaccination data shows roughly 20% of eligible residents in Burnaby are yet to be fully immunized against COVID-19.
As of Sept. 9, immunization rates in Burnaby's four quadrants are as follows for those 12 years and older:
FIRST DOSES
- Burnaby Northwest - 91%
- Burnaby Northeast - 89%
- Burnaby Southwest - 88%
- Burnaby Southeast - 87%
SECOND DOSES
- Burnaby Northwest - 84%
- Burnaby Northeast - 82%
- Burnaby Southwest 81%
- Burnaby Southeast - 80%
Yesterday (Sept. 14), Dr. Bonnie Henry said some immunocompromised British Columbians will be prioritized for a third coronavirus vaccine dose this fall.
She said data shows that people who have certain immune compromising conditions may not necessarily develop a response after two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Now, the province will start to provide a third dose to severely immunocompromised people in B.C. The group consists of people who may have had a solid organ transplant and are on immune-suppressant drugs or who have had stem cell transplants. People with severe primary immunodeficiencies will require a third dose, too.
The people in this first group will receive a text notifying them to go into any clinic in B.C. to get their third dose this week.
For the vast majority of people, a third dose would be considered a "booster shot," explained Henry. "It means it would increase our response and prolong our response.
"But for people who are immunocompromised, it's a different story."
Henry also announced a new health order which will make being fully vaccinated a condition of employment for all health-care workers across B.C. as of Oct. 26.
The order includes people working in health care, including all workers, students, physicians, residents, contractors and volunteers.
The new mandatory vaccination rule will apply to everything from health-care clinics and hospitals to home and community care settings. The order will not apply to people working outside a health authority’s jurisdiction, such as physiotherapists or physicians with a private practice.
“I recognize there are some rare instances where people have a medical condition that prevents them from being fully vaccinated,” said Henry Monday.
“We will have a process in place through my office with a committee of experts provincially to review every individual request for a medical or religious exemption.”
In some cases, exemptions may lead to workers getting reassigned, moved to separate areas, or tested on a regular basis, said Henry. But for those who choose not to be immunized, Henry said their choice would mean “leave without pay.”
The province is still gathering data on exactly how many health-care workers the new order will affect. But according to Health Minister Adrian Dix, it will certainly rise above 100,000 people across B.C. once long-term care and assisted living workers are counted.
Henry’s office had previously made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory at all long-term and residential care settings. As of today, Sept. 13, all employees in such facilities are required to have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By Oct. 12, those workers must be fully vaccinated.
- With files from Elana Shepert, Vancouver Is Awesome and Stefan Labbé, Glacier Media
