Media contact: Kelli Hawkins | [email protected] | (509) 324-1539, c (509) 994-8968
Spokane, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) today announced the Phase 1 Tier B1 COVID-19 vaccination, individuals aged 65 and over and those over 50 living in a multigenerational family, can start doing it. Health officials in Spokane County support expanding eligibility to Level B1, while continuing to ensure levels A1 and A2, which include health workers, first responders and long-term care facility employees and residents, have priority access.
Dr. Francisco Velazquez, Interim Health Officer for Spokane County with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD), explained that providers registered to administer COVID-19 vaccines continue to see a high demand for individuals who are eligible in Tiers A1 and A2 and who want the vaccine.
“As with other counties with larger populations, Spokane is still working diligently to ensure that members of our community with the greatest risk of exposure receive the vaccine first,” said Velazquez. “We are committed to being good stewards of our limited quantity of the COVID-19 vaccine.”
As just one of many providers that administer the vaccine through the DOH-led vaccination program, SRHD received 3,400 COVID-19 vaccines and will receive an additional 1,900 vaccines this week. 90% of our vaccines have been administered. Vaccine doses are not being withheld and were administered as SRHD received them through the drive-through clinic at the Spokane Fire Training Center (which ended January 14, 2021) and continue to be administered by contacts who are capable of vaccinate within its facilities, such as corrections, places of care, shelters, schools and others.
The SRHD COVID-19 Vaccination Team works daily to collaborate with other agencies and community partners to define what mass vaccination efforts will look like in our community as they prepare for a constant supply of vaccine.
In addition, Governor Jay Inslee announced state-run mass vaccination clinics at four locations in Washington, including Spokane County. Details on dates and accessibility of the clinic have not yet been released.
“We are pleased to hear that there is planned support at the state level that will complement Spokane County’s vaccination efforts through existing systems,” said Kayla Myers, leading the SRHD COVID-19 vaccination task force. “Mass vaccination planning is already underway through a collaborative working group of health care providers and the health district; state efforts will accelerate our ability to vaccinate more people more quickly. ”
Those who are eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to use the DOH Phase Finder at www.findyourphasewa.org to confirm eligibility and to be directed to vaccine providers in Spokane County.
Healthcare professionals must apply for vaccine administration by filling out the COVID-19 Provider Consultation Form on the DOH COVID-19 vaccination program registration page (under Registration in the COVID-19 vaccination program).