2021-05-25 BC

Vaccinations

BC is changing the interval between first and second doses from 112 days/16 weeks to 50 days/~7 weeks for Pfizer. That means almost all 70+ will be eligible right away.

Unfortunately, a lot of the 70+ yos are not in the system right now.

AgeCohort sizeRegistrations (by last week)% registered
70-79435,062283,49065%
80+237,16983,09335%

Apparently, there was a computer glitch over the weekend which meant that some people got invitations to book before they were supposed to. (In today’s press briefing, Dr. Henry said that they would honour those bookings, not to worry!) She said that the “real” rollout would happen later this week.


In today’s press briefing, Dr. Henry was asked what we would do about second doses for Moderna, given that Moderna hasn’t reliably delivered vax. Dr. Henry said that the data showed that you could mix&match the mRNAs, implicitly saying that they’ll give Pfizer for second doses if they are out of Moderna.

Dr. Henry said that they expect to get data next week, when they meet with their UK counterparts, on the AZ/Pfizer mix&match study, so expect to be able to give AZ people guidance next week.

Mitigation Measures

Police busted a party in downtown Vancouver and gave 17 people fines of over $11K.

Press Briefing

Today, Premiere Horgan, Minister Dix, Dr. Henry and Minister Kallom(?) presented the province’s restart plan (slides here). They — especially Dix and Henry — looked really really relieved and happy.

Step 1: May 25, requiring 60% of adults to be vaxed with at least 1 dose, cases and hospitalizations stable:

  • Maximum of five visitors or one household allowed for indoor personal gatherings
  • Maximum of 10 people for outdoor personal gatherings
  • Maximum of 10 people for seated indoor organized gatherings with safety protocols (and they need to be the from the SAME 10 people bubble every time)
  • Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized gatherings with safety protocols (so no dancing)
  • Recreational travel only within travel region (travel restrictions extended, including enforcement measures)
  • Indoor and outdoor dining for up to six people with safety protocols
  • Resume outdoor sports (games) with no spectators (but no travel), low-intensity fitness with safety protocols
  • Start gradual return to workplaces
  • Province-wide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place
  • Return of indoor in-person faith-based gatherings (reduced capacity) based on consultation with public health

Step 2: Mid-June (June 15 – earliest date), requiring 65% of adults to be vaxed with at least 1 dose, cases and hospitalizations declining:

  • Maximum of 50 people for outdoor social gatherings
  • Maximum of 50 people for seated indoor organized gatherings (banquet halls, movie theatres, live theatre) with safety protocols
  • Consultation process to prepare for larger indoor and outdoor gatherings with safety protocols
  • No B.C. travel restrictions – check local travel advisories
  • Indoor sports (games) and high-intensity fitness with safety protocols
  • Spectators for outdoor sports (50 maximum)
  • Provincewide mask mandate, business safety protocols and physical distancing measures remain in place

Step 3: Early July (July 1 – earliest date), requiring 70% vaxed with at least 1 dose, cases low and hospitalizations declining:

  • Provincial state of emergency and public health emergency lifted
  • Returning to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings
  • Increased capacity for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings, with safety plans
  • Nightclubs and casinos reopen with capacity limits and safety plans
  • New public health and workplace guidance around personal protective equipment, physical distancing and business protocols

Step 4: Early September (Sept. 7 – earliest date), requiring 70% vaxed with at least 1 dose, cases low and stable (with confined clisters) and hospitalizations low:

  • Returning to normal social contact
  • Increased capacity at larger organized gatherings
  • No limits on indoor and outdoor spectators at sports
  • Businesses operating with new safety plans

Other things that came up during Q&A which I haven’t already mentioned:

  • 44% of 12-17 year olds have registered already.
  • Someone questioned the safety of indoor dining (compared to travel) and Dr.H mentioned that many of the restaurant workers are now immunized.
  • Dix repeated that we are supply limited on the vax, that we can give it out faster than we are getting it.
  • Someone asked about international travel, and they said very firmly that international travel was a federal issue.

I will also say that Dix and Henry both exuded relief and happiness.

Statistics

289 cases, +1 death, +40,563 first doses, +1,436 second doses.

Currently 301 in hospital / 93 in ICU, 3,782 active cases, 137,062 recovered.

We have 572,073 doses in fridges; we’ll use it in 11.1 days at last week’s rate. We’ve given more doses than we’d received by 8 days ago.

We have 444,156 mRNA doses in fridges; we’ll use it in 8.6 days at last week’s rate. We’ve given more doses than we’d received by 7 days ago.

Charts