Rate of COVID-19 booster shots administered in B.C. lagging

B.C. has had high vaccine uptake for the first two COVID-19 vaccine doses, but the number of people getting their third shot is lagging well behind.

Over 90 per cent of eligible British Columbians have rolled up their sleeves to get their first and second dose. However, just over 57 per cent of those eligible have gotten dose 3.

B.C.’s Health Minister, Adrian Dix says it’s mainly people under the age of 50 who aren’t getting their booster. So, he says the province is now working to convince younger people to get it adding it’s the best way to protect yourself against new variants.

“I really encourage people to do it. It’ll put them in a way simply to be safer and to protect yourself and your family better in the months to come in a pandemic that still has surprises remaining for us,” he warns.

Dix says over 80 per cent of those over the age of 70 have had their third shot — something he says will help us as we move forward in the pandemic.