Lack of COVID booster shots in B.C. youth worries experts

The majority of people under the age of 30 living in B.C. have not received their booster shot, according to the BCCDC, and some experts are concerned about the hesitancy.

The BCCDC says only about 39 per cent of British Columbians between the age of 18-29 have their third shot, and experts say not enough is being done to incentivize young people to get their booster.

“I think that people who have had COVID in that particular age range haven’t had many major side effects and there isn’t really any talk in the media nor from the public health office in terms of long COVID, so there seems to be less fear surrounding if you get it or not.” said Sabrina Wong, a UBC health services policy research professor.

Wong says she believes the hesitance towards the third jab comes from the perceived potential side effects of the shot and the illusion that COVID is no longer a threat.

“I think we’ll see more people getting boosters if we have another wave.”

Wong suggests public awareness campaigns would be a solution in order to start seeing substantial growth in the number of British Columbians getting their booster.

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Last month, B.C.’s Health Minister, Adrian Dix, said 850,000 people who had already received invitations had yet to book their appointments.

“I ask them for the sake of their own health and the ones they love to book their booster appointments,” Dix said.

With the BC Vaccine Card also being scraped as of April 8, UBC Director of Nursing, Elizabeth Saewyc says people’s motivation may dwindle even further.

“If you are not prevented from the things you want to do and it’s going to be extra effort to get that vaccine, people will default to the easy choice.”

Saewyc says she envisions upcoming encouragement from the province to get the booster in order to keep our health care system from being overwhelmed.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health says vaccination — including a booster — is “the best way to ensure our communities have high levels of immunity against COVID-19.”

“The more people who are protected by vaccines, the lower the level of serious risk,” the ministry says in an email to CityNews, encouraging people to get vaccinated if they have not yet already done so, and to encourage their loved ones to do the same.

“It is important to remember that more than 91% of all adults are fully vaccinated. As well, in B.C., most people have a long interval between each dose, meaning the protection they gained from vaccination is still strong and long-lasting,” the statement continues.

The ministry goes on to say that that Omicron infections have also provided “a boost” for those who have received two doses.

“We know that this can last for several months and that some people are waiting for the 2-3 months recommended by NACI before getting their booster to get long lasting protection,” the statement adds.