Getting your COVID-19 vaccine has never been easier, both in the Peace Region, and the province. However, first doses across BC, and in the Peace Region are plateauing.

"It'll just be a grind. It'll take us till September to get from 82 to 85 (per cent)", says BC Health Minister Adrian Dix.

While the Peace Region barely surpasses the 50 per cent mar, many communities are nearing 90 per cent.

Experts say that is a problem, because cases in other parts of BC are starting to rise. Data from the BCCDC shows in June three quarters of all COVID infections were in unvaccinated people, and another 22 per cent in those with just one dose.

"Right now Delta is spreading so fast," says UBC Biomathematics Professor Sally Otto says, "and it can spread even among people that have been vaccinated, because vaccinated mainly you're protected against a severe infection and hospitalization."

Doctors aren't involved right now, and say they could make a big difference. Dr. Eric Cadesky, a former President of the Doctors of BC says "it's important that we have the vaccine ready to go for people, so that if they do decide to do it, we're able to act on that in the moment."

Another reason our community is stalling, Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Baumstead says, is people simply don't want to be vaccinated. "There's just segments of our population that are just not willing to be vaccinated. And you respect that, you respect people's opinions and views on it."

Some options to speed up vaccination rates - Dawson Creek MLA Mike Bernier suggests - include advertising, spreading the word, and keep encouraging people.

"Maybe we need just a little bit more promotion," Bernier told CJDC-TV, "We need a little bit more awareness. We need people talking about it around the kitchen table, and making sure that they talk to their family members and getting vaccinated."

Alternatives, such as a vaccine lottery, are off the table at the moment.

"The reason we're doing the delay we're doing is medicine, science." Dix says when asked about other provinces going to four weeks between doses, while BC is still at eight. "The view is the effect of the vaccine will be better and longer with a longer delay."

As of July 20th, the percentage of vaccinated adult population who received one dose is 52 per cent for both Peace River North and South, and 54 per cent for Fort Nelson.

 

WITH FILES FROM CTV VANCOUVER