A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Cottonwoods Care Centre in Kelowna, despite the majority of its residents being vaccinated.
As of February 15th, 220 of the 268 residents (82%) at the long term care and assisted living facility had been vaccinated, according to the data provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control.
The Interior Health Authority said two staff members and 10 residents have tested positive for COVID-19.
“You can still have transmission after two doses [of the COVID-19 vaccine],” Dr. Henry said at a press conference today, March 8th.
“We have a lot of transmission right now […] some people can and will transmit to large numbers and if they’re in situations where they can, they will.”
This comes a week after BC health officials announced the beginning of Phase 2.
Today, health officials announced an increase of 60 second doses over a three day period.
Compared to an increase of 5,352 second doses over a four day period on February 16th, the number of second doses administered is drastically reduced.
With the announcement of Phase 2, the number of second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has reduced in order to vaccinate more of the population with their first dose.
Canada currently has four vaccines approved by Health Canada.
Phase 2 immunizations will prioritize those who have yet to be vaccinated from Phase 1 and include seniors 80 and over, Indigenous Elders 65 and over, and isolated indigenous communities not vaccinated.
According to health officials, it takes two to three weeks to develop immunity or protection against COVID-19 after receiving a vaccine.
Health officials are looking into how the virus got into the facility.
Residents and staff at long-term care homes were the first to be vaccinated, and that program has been completed.
