February 24, 2021
COVID-19 Updates from Skagit County
First-dose vaccines delivered after shipment delay
Skagit County Public Health received first-dose vaccines for the week of February 22nd after a shipment delay. An estimated 90 percent of all vaccine allocations for Washington State were impacted by this delay due to severe weather in the Midwest.
As a reminder, Skagit County Public Health only schedules appointments for vaccine doses we know we have/are getting. An update on appointments for the week of 3/1 will be provided on our website on Saturday, February 27 at 9:00 a.m.: www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
New online tools for finding vaccine appointments
The WA Department of Health updated its Vaccine Locations webpage last week: https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/VaccineLocations. The new update includes a map of all provider locations in the State, and can be filtered by location, vaccine type, and appointment availability. The map is updated frequently though information about availability may be delayed.
WA COVID Vaccine Finder is another online tool that people can use to locate appointment availability: https://www.covidwa.com/. Individuals must be able to provide proof of eligibility to schedule an appointment. Eligibility can be determined by going to www.findyourphasewa.org. Please note: this website is volunteer run. Some delays in showing appointment availability or booking are likely.
Transportation assistance
Skagit Transit will provide service to vaccination sites, including the Skagit County Fairgrounds Clinic, by both Fixed Route and Paratransit service. People who are able to use the Fixed Route service may access any route by showing proof of a vaccine appointment to the Coach Operator. For questions about Fixed Route services and/or bus stop locations, contact the Dispatch Center at (360) 757-4433.
Those who are not able to use Fixed Route services may be able utilize the Paratransit service. People needing this service must call the Dispatch Center at (360) 757-4433. Since Paratransit is a reservation-based service, a minimum of 24 hours advance notice is required.
Updates to Quarantine Requirement for vaccinated persons
On February 10th, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced changes to quarantine requirements for those who are fully vaccinated. Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Are fully vaccinated (with a two-week window since receipt of the final dose in the series).
- Have remained asymptomatic since the COVID-19 exposure.
- Are within three months following receipt of the last dose in the series (meaning that no more than three months has passed since the individuals last vaccine dose).
More information can be found here: https://skagitcounty.blog/?p=2786.
Post-vaccine precautions
To protect those in the community who have not yet been vaccinated, it remains crucial that people continue to take precautions, even after receiving the vaccine. Continue to wear your mask when in public, continue to keep gatherings small and keep your distance, and stay home when you are sick. To learn more about the importance of these precautions, visit: https://skagitcounty.blog/2021/01/28/looking-toward-the-finish-line-precautions-post-vaccine/.
Additional Resources.
Need assistance? Call the Vaccine Hotline at (360) 416-1500.
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