A milestone on the COVID-19 vaccine front in Kamloops as the city has surpassed the 100,000 mark.
There were 74,886 first doses administered along with 30,519 second doses for a total of 105,405 vaccines administered. These numbers would include anyone who was vaccinated at a clinic, long-term care home, or pharmacy in Kamloops.
“So it could include people who travelled from a neighbouring area to receive their vaccination,” Interior Health said, in a statement.
Medical Health Officer for Kamloops, Dr. Carol Fenton, said she is “thrilled” to reach that mark.
“We want to thank the thousands of people in Kamloops who visited an immunization clinic, pharmacy or pop-up to get their vaccine to protect themselves and our community as a whole,” Fenton said.
“We have been able to achieve this milestone in such a short period of time thanks to our hardworking healthcare staff including Interior Health employees, physicians, nurses and TRU nursing students, as well as firefighters, pharmacists, St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, community volunteers, Rotary – and of course our partners at the City of Kamloops.”
Across B.C., there have been 4,652,087 vaccine doses administered, 1,122,024 of which have been second doses. In Interior Health, there have been 737,162 doses of a vaccine administered – 529,453 first doses and 207,709 second doses – with plans to allow anyone to drop-in to a clinic if they haven’t already gotten a first dose.
“As of today, any clinic is ready to welcome someone who wants to drop-in for their first dose of vaccine,” Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown said. “No appointments are necessary. That includes youth and families; anyone 12 and older is welcome to drop-in for their first dose when it’s convenient for them.”
“Our clinics have even created options to support people who might be frightened or nervous. This is a great option for youth, we can make sure their experience is as relaxed and supported as possible.”
There were just 10 new COVID cases in the Kamloops Local Health area during the week of June 13 and June 19, the lowest its ever been in a single week.
As of the latest available data, the vaccine rate for people over the age of 12 in the Kamloops Centre South Community Health Service Area (CHSA) was 78 per cent, while in Kamloops Centre North was at 70 per cent.
