By Cheryl Jahn

Businesses pay the price for low vaccinations

Dec 8, 2021 | 3:08 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Vaccination rates in Prince George are around 90%, and yet they are considerably lower in the Northeast of the province. But both in the jurisdiction of Northern Health, the reason Prince George is part of a health order that places restrictions on local businesses and organizations. While he applauds the work of Dr. Bonnie Henry, Mayor Lyn Hall admits it’s tough.

“There will be comparables and I think it will continue to be that way. How do balance off what’s happening here in Prince George with other areas, other health authorities? Are we going to be ebb and flowing with future restrictions based on regional vaccination rates? Or are we going to be looked at as a stand-alone community?”

The current health order limits capacity at events to fifty percent and bans the sale of alcohol past ten p.m. The restrictions are set to remain in effect until the end of January. We asked Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry if, at that time, the number haven’t improved, will the order be extended.

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“The aim from the very beginning was to use the least restrictive means possible to ensure that we were trying to find that balance of keeping the virus suppressed, keeping people from serious illness or death, protecting our health care system, and allowing society to function as much as possible,” she explains. “That’s what our aim will continue to be. And I talk with the Chief Medical Health Officer and the team up in the North on a daily basis and we’ll be re-assessing things as we go. And trying to do what we can to make sure that we have the least restrictive means possible.”

But the MLA for Prince George-Valemount says the differing vaccination rates make the case for rapid testing.

“How do you include the use of rapid testing as part of how we emerge from the pandemic? We know that British Columbia has had a large number of rapid tests. In fact, in the millions, or rapid tests made available to the province. There’s been limited use of that testing.”

That can be done in conjunction with vaccinations and booster shots.