B.C. vaccination rate for kids 5-11 second lowest in Canada

B.C.’s vaccination rate for kids five to 11 is the second lowest in the country, behind only Alberta, according to data from Health Canada as of Jan. 15.

In B.C., 47 per cent of children in the youngest age cohort have received their first dose, behind the national average of 51 per cent.

B.C. has been pushing for parents to get their kids immunized since Health Canada approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine for young children in mid-November, but overall the response has been very slow since then.

Newfoundland and Labrador is number one for immunization rates in that age group at an estimated 74 per cent, and B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry admits B.C. could learn a few things from them.

“I look in awe to Newfoundland and Labrador and my colleague Dr. Janice Fitzgerald there,” Henry said Tuesday.

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Newfoundland and Labrador also has the highest immunization rates in the country, at 89 per cent. B.C. is not far behind for those 12 and older.

Henry says it’s more important than ever for everyone who can be vaccinated to get the shot, especially as the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout communities and hospitalization rates rise.

The province has not released data on the exact number of school-aged children in hospital since its last report in December, which came when only a few cases of Omicron were reported in the province. However, Henry says serious pediatric cases are up overall.

“Young people are being infected, and yes the rate of serious illness and hospitalization is still very low in that age group thankfully, but more and more numbers of children are ending up in hospital. We are seeing that here as well and we know kids can get really sick with this,” she said.

On Tuesday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) changed its language around vaccination for children to be “recommended,” a move which Henry applauds.

“We have new and reassuring real-world safety data from millions and millions of young children who have been protected through vaccination and so they have strengthened the recommendation that all children five to 11 should be vaccinated.”

It’s unclear why more than half of parents in the province have resisted getting their child immunized, but overall the communities which have shown lower rates of immunization in adults are also reflecting low uptick in children’s vaccines.

Among the lowest:

• Northern, and Interior Health regions, about 32 per cent and 41 per cent have received their first shot.

The highest regions:

• Vancouver Coastal, and Vancouver Island, immunization rates in children younger than 11 sits at 65 per cent and 59 per cent.

By community:

• Only 27 per cent of the eligible children five to 11 have had one shot in Hope, compared to 60 per cent in New Westminster.

Henry hopes with NACI changing its guidance, more health care providers and families will be encouraged about the safety of the shot.

“It’s important for them to be a part of protecting their grandparents, or older people in their lives,” she said, adding there are a variety of reasons why it’s so important for children to be immunized.

Henry says it’s important to remember that even one dose offers significant protection.

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“That first dose will provide tremendous protection, it’s that 80 per cent protection once … your immune system has started developing those antibodies That will make the difference for what’s happening right now. But we want to make sure we are protecting kids for the long run as well,” she said.

She said it’s also important to ensure that children are getting their second shots after eight weeks and says the provincial invitation system is working ‘really well.’

“It’s not only to protect us for now but also to make sure that we giving the best priming of the immune system for the future too as we get through this wave,” she said.