Almost 86% of B.C. residents five and up have first dose of vaccine

VICTORIA – B.C. health officials are reporting 379 new cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths.

The Health Ministry says in a news release Wednesday that there are 2,874 active cases of COVID-19, with 224 people in hospital and 77 of those in intensive care.

It says the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached 2,369.

The ministry says people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for about 67.5 per cent of hospitalizations between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6.

The release says about 85.8 per cent of those aged five and up have received one shot and about 11 per cent of those aged 12 and up have had a third dose.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry had said British Columbians are being offered a booster shot about six to eight months after their second dose, but it’s not yet known if they would need another jab after that.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2021.