COVID vaccination rates in B.C. not great: UBC prof.

Two months after the provincial government rolled out its spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the uptake numbers aren’t great.

“As of June 1, 20 per cent of people age 65 to 79, 27 per cent of people age 80 and older, and 14 per cent of people who are immunocompromised (across all ages),” have received their jab, the Ministry of Health said in a statement to CityNews 1130.

Sarah Otto is a UBC professor and part of the independent COVID-19 modelling group. She says the numbers are actually low across the country.

“We’re not seeing a huge uptake,” explains Otto.

She feels the province didn’t do a good enough job communicating the urgent need for people to get the updated booster.

“We know that these vaccines really help prevent the most severe cases, hospitalizations, and death, and a lot of that protection is pretty long-lasting. So, why get boosted all the time? Like other diseases, like the flu, this virus changes so much that our bodies aren’t very good at recognizing and clearing it, but if we boost our antibodies by getting vaccinated, that tells our bodies to, ‘Get ready.’ It boosts our antibody levels, and then we can fight off this virus.”

Otto acknowledges there may be some complacency and perhaps even apathy with the shot, but she stresses COVID-19 is still hanging around and will continue spreading throughout the summer.

“We don’t have a summer reprieve. Get vaccinated, and when you can, avoid this disease.”

She’s reminding you that all the same benefits experts have been talking about for years still apply; the vaccine protects you and those around you.

“The vaccinations are helping now, especially if you’re in an age group where [you fall] into the spring campaign,” said Otto.

The province warns now is the time to get the shot, adding invitations will be paused as of June 30.

“At that time, invites through the Get Vaccinated System will pause until the fall 2024 respiratory illness season vaccination program, which will be focused on offering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines,” adds the Ministry of Health.

It says there is enough supply right now, but confirms that as doses expire, they are discarded.