Dr. Bonnie Henry’s First COVID-19 Briefing Since Early April

COVID-19 is far from over, but B.C. is in a good place, for now, because of vaccinations, according to the province’s top doctor.

COVID-19 is far from over, but B.C. is in a good place, for now, because of vaccinations, according to the province’s top doctor.

This was Dr. Bonnie Henry’s first COVID-19 briefing with reporters since early April when most restrictions were lifted.

She urges everyone to get all the doses they are eligible for, including any shots missed due to coming down with COVID earlier this year.

Henry states that people need to be prepared for a surge in the fall.  If all goes well, she hopes that won’t include issuing public health orders.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the health-care system is still facing challenges, adding up to 18,000 workers missed at least one day of work.

On Tuesday, B.C. also released a list of COVID vaccination rates among 17 different registered health professionals.

About 94 percent overall have been vaccinated or are medically exempt.

The professions with the highest vaccination rates are physicians and surgeons, as well as dieticians. The province reports 98 percent for each of those groups. At least 96 percent of registered occupational therapists, pharmacists, optometrists, pharmacy technicians, and psychologists are also either vaccinated or exempt.

The groups with the lowest percentages are naturopathic physicians (69.2%), chiropractors (78.1%), and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (79%).