120 new COVID cases B.C.; 43 in Interior Health

New COVID-19 cases remain relatively low in B.C. at 120 in the last 24 hours but there were 43 new cases of the virus in the Interior Health region, which is slightly higher than during most days of late.

The vaccination rate for those 18 and older is now 76.5 per cent, while the vaccination rate for those over the age of 12 is 74.8 per cent, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a news briefing today, June 17.

The bad news was that there will be fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine delivered to the province in the first half of July.

“While disappointing this is not unexpected, given the complexity of global vaccination issues,” Dr. Henry said.

That shortfall will be made up in the last two weeks of July, she said and the number of Moderna doses is increasing so the province’s vaccination program should keep on track.

She also pointed out, again, that mixing and matching second vaccine doses is effective but people will have a choice of which second dose they want.

While the vaccines being used in B.C. are very effective, Dr. Henry said, there is ongoing research into their longevity. If a third dose is needed or the vaccines need to be modified, that will be done, she added.

Of the new cases, 53 were in the Fraser Health region, 13 in Vancouver Coastal, five on Vancouver Island and five in the Northern Health region.

There was one more death, bringing the provincial total to 1,739.

There are 1,451 active cases in B.C. with 131 people in hospital, 44 of whom are in intensive care.

WorkSafeBC will be working with businesses over the summer as the province opens up more to make sure safety plans are adapted. But, Dr. Henry said, some measures, like barriers, may need to be kept in workplaces to help minimize the spread of all communicable diseases.

Register for vaccinations at the Get Vaccinated website here or by calling 1-833-838-2323.

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