State DOH updates COVID vaccine rollout
— Created January 13, 2021 by Kathy Reed
By Kathy Reed
Washington State Department of Health has issued an updated list of its COVID-19 vaccine rollout and it will launch a new online tool Jan. 18 to help people find out when they will be able to get the vaccine.
Vaccinations are still underway for those in the first two tiers of Phase 1 – A1 and A2. Most health care workers in Island County have had access to their vaccination and inoculations were set to begin for the 1B group this week. However, that plan has been put on hold, as neighboring Skagit County has not yet reached its saturation threshold for the first two tiers. Island County, WhidbeyHealth and IslandDrug have reallocated part of their supply to Skagit County to assist in its immunization efforts. When officials are satisfied enough people from groups A1 and A2 have been vaccinated, those in the 1B tier can begin receiving their shots.
“We are working diligently to ensure collaboration with neighboring counties in our region in an effort to vaccinate all willing in the healthcare populations,” read a press release from Island County Public Health Tuesday morning. “All counties in the region must vaccinate all willing healthcare populations before moving onto the next wave. Our region has yet to meet the requirement to vaccinate all willing healthcare workers. Because it is a government owned vaccine, we are directed to assist our neighbors to healthcare saturation before proceeding.”
Currently only WhidbeyHealth and Island Drug in Oak Harbor are approved to give the vaccine in Island County. According to the press release, they will continue to vaccinate health care workers.
“If you made a next wave appointment with Island Drug your place in line will be preserved,” the release stated. “They will push existing appointments two-weeks backwards for now, hoping we can resume at this time.”
Questions should be directed to Island County Public Health’s COVID-19 Call Center at 360-678-2301 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or via email to pubhealth@islandcountywa.gov.
Those interested in knowing when they’ll be able to get the vaccine or in which tier they are in, can go to FindYourPhaseWA.org beginning Jan. 18.