COVID outcomes divided between vaccinated, unvaccinated: B.C. modelling
Posted November 4, 2021 4:08 pm.
Last Updated November 4, 2021 7:07 pm.
New modelling from the province shows COVID-19 outcomes in B.C. are divided into two distinct groups: those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.
Those who aren’t fully vaccinated are 50 times more likely to end up hospitalized with the virus. They’re also 46 times more likely to die than their vaccinated counterparts, and 10 times more likely to become infected with the novel coronavirus.
(Courtesy: B.C. government)
One cohort that differs is the elderly. That age group sees the most deaths, despite having 90 per cent of people fully vaccinated.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says age remains the highest risk factor because older people have a lower immune response and can have other complicating illnesses. She expects booster shots, which are being rolled out, will help.
B.C. records 596 COVID-19 cases, eight deaths
Fraser Health once again recorded the most new COVID-19 cases compared to provincial health authorities in the province Thursday, with 222 of the 596 province-wide.
Northern Health saw 159 cases and Interior Health recorded 115. However, Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health recorded far fewer, with 54 and 46, respectively.
As of Thursday, there are currently 438 British Columbians counted as hospitalized with COVID-19, including 130 people in intensive care. The ICU number dropped from 137 reported the day before. Due to a data error, no hospitalization figure was provided on Wednesday.
Eight COVID-related deaths were recorded in the past day, including three each in Fraser and Northern Health. The remaining two were in Vancouver Coastal Health.
Of all eligible British Columbians, 90.1 per cent have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 85.6 per cent have received their second.
The province says 64.5 per cent of cases recorded from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 were people who were not fully vaccinated. They also accounted for 71.8 per cent of hospitalizations from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.
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According to modelling provided by the province Thursday, the curve of cases over the fall shows a steep increase in kids testing positive in the month after school started. Those numbers declined rapidly after the province expanded the indoor mask mandate on Oct. 4 to include everyone aged five and up.
(Courtesy: B.C. government)
There are 37 active outbreaks in health-care facilities across B.C.:
Long-term care: Cherington Place, West Shore Laylum, Queens Park Care Centre, Rosemary Heights Seniors Village, Tabor Home, Cascade Gardens (Fraser Health); Amica Lions Gate, Amica Edgemont (Vancouver Coastal Health); Cottonwoods Care Centre, Overlander, Village by the Station, Haven Hill Retirement Centre, Deni House, Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre, Sun Pointe Village (Interior Health); Peace Villa (Northern Health); and Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence (Island Health)
Acute care: Mission Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital, Queen’s Park Care Centre, Abbotsford Regional Hospital (Fraser Health); Royal Inland Hospital (Interior Health); University Hospital of Northern BC, GR Baker Memorial Hospital, Bulkley Valley District Hospital (Northern Health); and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (Island Health)
Assisted or independent living: Menno Terrace West, The Emerald at Elim Village, Swedish Assisted Living Residence, Harrison Pointe, Norman Manor, Pacific Carlton Seniors Community, Rideau Retirement Residence, Tabor Manor, The Cedars, Hallmark on the Lake and Hallmark on the Park (Fraser Health)
Henry says COVID-19 is now a virus where severe outcomes are preventable. The areas where cases are high are generally places where vaccination rates are low.
Though Fraser Health continues to see the bulk of COVID-19 cases in B.C., Henry notes “This last wave has been driven initially by a rapid increase of cases in Interior Health that has finally now started to settle down.”
She also acknowledged Northern Health has seen its fair share of cases.
Regional COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect in both the Interior Health and Northern Health regions.
