Insufficient vaccine dose delays deployment in Snohomish County

EVERETT — As part of Phase 1B of the state, it takes time to get the COVID vaccine in Snohomish County.

Currently, about 200,000 county residents are subject to potentially life-saving shots, so the demand for dose acquisition is high and the supply is low. At the current pace, it will take several months for all Phase 1B individuals to be vaccinated.

Problem: Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies may have sufficient doses, but lack the space and capacity to administer them quickly. Public clinics in Everett, Lynnwood, and Monroe, on the other hand, can inject shots at high rates, but are in short supply.

“The bottom line is that drive-through sites need more vaccines,” Snohomish County executive Dave Summers said in a media briefing Tuesday. “I’m frustrated and frustrated with having to fight for extra doses.”

With the right supply, county vaccine clinics in Everett, Lynnwood, and Monroe can combine 30,000 to 50,000 shots a week, according to Summers.

As of Tuesday, none of the drive-through sites had scheduled shots due to low vaccine supply. It is unknown when they will resume operations.

“There is no vaccine available today,” Dr. Chris Spitters, a health officer at the Snohomish Health District, said in a media briefing Tuesday. “As the supply of vaccines increases, we need people to remain patient.”

The remaining dose came out on Tuesday, with about 100 cars lined up in the lane of the drive-through clinic at Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.

After hearing the governor’s announcement, 66-year-old JoAnn Becker went online on Monday night and made a reservation on Monroe’s site on Tuesday.

She also scheduled shots for two friends in the 80’s.

“They went really fast,” she said. “By the time I submitted it, most of it was gone.”

On Tuesday, the process of getting her shot took less than an hour.

“I think they really need to be praised,” she said. “It’s really, really cool. What a wonderful group.”

But last week, a security breach allowed some people who weren’t vaccinated to take shots at Monroe’s drive-through site.

There are other options for getting your shot.

The Everett Clinic will book Phase 1B members starting Wednesday, spokesman Sam Templeton said in an email.

“Our COVID-19 vaccine supply is limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis,” he said.

Clinic shots must be reserved. Patients can make appointments via MyChart or by calling 425-339-4212.

“We expect the demand for the COVID-19 vaccine to fill up the available booking spots soon,” says Templeton. “Every week, Washington informs Everett Clinic of the doses it receives and opens a corresponding number of reserved spots. Due to limited supply, it cannot meet the demands of everyone who wants vaccination. ”

To qualify for the vaccine and find other clinics where you can get the vaccine, please visit: FindYourPhaseWA.org, Or call the state hotline at 800-525-0127.

In the revised Phase 1B, vaccinations are eligible if you are 65 or older, or 50 or older, and live in a multi-generational household, such as your grandparents living with your grandchildren.

Governor Jay Inslee’s move to Phase 1B, announced Monday, came with new rules for vaccine providers aimed at speeding up what was delayed in the state’s distribution program. ..

One rule requires that the provider administer 95% of the vaccine supply within one week of receiving the dose. This prevents them from booking a supply for a second dose.

That decision means that more people will get the first shot sooner, but if the shipment is slow, not everyone has enough dose to get the second shot on time. It can be in a state.

“We are at the mercy of it,” Spitters said.

Local leaders were already angry with the state about its share of the county’s vaccine supply across the state.

On January 12, the Ministry of Health announced that it would receive 123,275 doses next week and distribute them to 142 county sites and 11 tribal or urban Indian health program sites throughout Washington.

Of the total, 2,300 went to Snohomish County and urged the Summers office to ask the governor’s office for more. By Friday, another 1,000 doses were secured.

And last week, the Trump administration announced that it would release millions of doses previously reserved in federal stockpiles. As a result, states, including Washington, want a stronger supply.

However, those vaccines were already distributed and the reserves were almost empty.

“It was very difficult news to catch,” Summers said.

On the other hand, COVID hospitalization remains at a stable but alarming level.

In Snohomish County, 100-120 people are admitted to local hospitals daily and are infected with the virus.

Health officials continue to wear masks and encourage people to stay away from society.

“We are very close here,” Spitters said. “Vaccines alone cannot open up society in the short term.”

How do I get vaccinated in Snohomish County?

This week, all adults over the age of 65 in Washington and adults over the age of 50 living in multigenerational households were vaccinated.

To verify your eligibility, please visit: FindYourPhaseWA.org, Or call the state hotline at 800-525-0127.

Everett Clinic sets shots by appointment. For more information, please use MyChart or call 425-339-4212.

The drive-through site in Snohomish County did not schedule shots on Tuesday due to low vaccine supply.

Data on vaccine distribution was available on a new dashboard at the New York State Department of Health. doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard..

Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; [email protected].. twitter: @byjoeythompson..