Vaccine numbers in B.C. above 4.5 million, includes more than a million 2nd shots

First-dose vaccine numbers in British Columbia have risen to above 75 per cent of the eligible population, with second-shot totals hovering near 25 per cent.

A joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix says the increasing vaccine numbers allow for the gradual and safe reopening of the province with the lifting of more restrictions.

It says more than 4.5 million doses of vaccine have been delivered in total, and of those, slightly over one million were second shots.

There are 87 new COVID-19 cases across B.C., with no new cases in the Northern Health region and three new cases on Vancouver Island.

There has been one new death, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 1,744 people.

The statement says all vaccines available in B.C., including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca, are safe and effective and they significantly reduce the number of people getting seriously ill with COVID-19.