B.C. has recorded its first case of a vaccine-induced blood clot after a patient received a dose of AstraZeneca.
Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says a woman in her 40’s in Vancouver Coastal Health noticed her symptoms about five or six days after getting the shot, and she was tested by her doctor.
Henry emphasized the condition only occurs in one in about 100,000 people who get the shot, and that it is treatable.
“It can be alarming, but it is rare,” she said at her media briefing today (Thursday), adding AstraZeneca has been used in other countries to drastically curb transmission.
“It is an excellent vaccine. Take a deep breath and be assured this is rare and physicians know what to do.”
Symptoms of the side effect include headache, and redness and swelling in a limb.
Meanwhile, the two millionth COVID-19 dose is set to be administered sometime today.
Henry says 1,995,496 doses have been given out as of this morning, 95,868 of which are second doses.
Hospitalizations, ICU admissions and active cases in the province have dropped, as B.C. reports 694 cases of COVID-19 today.
6,802 cases are active, down by 75 since yesterday.
There are 457 people in hospital, a decrease of 24, and ICU numbers have fallen by seven to 154.
Hospitalizations are at their lowest point since mid-April.
B.C.’s seven-day rolling average is 695 cases, the lowest number since March 25.
One person has passed away in Interior Health, as B.C.’s death toll is now 1,595.
No new outbreaks have been reported, seven remain ongoing.
B.C. has reported 133,619 cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic, about 94% have recovered.
Breakdown
153 – Vancouver Coastal
445 – Fraser
17 – Island
52 – Interior
27 – North
Meanwhile, Anyone 49 and older can now book their vaccine.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says those over 46 who have registered will be able to book tomorrow (Friday) after 7 pm.
People 43 and older will be allowed to book on Sunday, and those in the 40+ age group will book on Tuesday.
Pregnant people 16 and up, Indigenous people 18 and older, and people who have received a letter indicating they are clinically vulnerable are also eligible to book.
In addition, specific AstraZeneca vaccine clinics will be established in 35 communities with the highest identified in-community transmission.
In Northern Health, this applies to residents 18 and older in Fort St James North, Fort St John, Dawson Creek, and Fort Nelson Population Centre.
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