Just under 0.2 per cent of all COVID-19 vaccines in the last 24 hours were second doses as the provinces continues to push more first shots for more people. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MASS VAX

Nearly 12,000 people given first COVID-19 vaccine dose in last 24 hours

Mar 10, 2021 | 3:32 PM

NANAIMO — B.C.’s shift away from second doses of COVID-19 vaccine is in full swing.

Ahead of the opening of mass vaccination clinics on March 15, the province said it had administered 355,340 doses of COVID-19 to date, including nearly 12,000 in the last day.

Just 22 of the doses given in the last 24 hours were second doses.

“We are now starting to receive supplies of the AstraZeneca – SII Covishield vaccine,” read a joint statement from the province and public health. “This additional vaccine supply will be used to supplement our age-based province-wide immunization program.”

The province confirmed 531 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 10. The increase is in line with the rolling seven-day average of 534.

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Island Health confirmed 19 new cases, taking the total of 2,599 since the pandemic began.

The number of active cases dropped again, down to 202, including 110 in the central Island region which continues to lead the health authority in new, total and active cases.

The number of active cases in B.C. decreased by just eight, now at 4,861 while the 244 people in hospital including 66 people in ICU represents minor drops from the day prior.

One additional fatality was linked to COVID-19 across B.C.

Fifty-one new variants of concern were found, bringing the total variant cases in B.C. to 627. Most are already fully recovered with 109 cases currently active.

The COVID-19 variant first discovered in the United Kingdon accounts for 580 of the total number of variants.

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