March 10, 2021
COVID-19 Updates from Skagit County
Vaccine Availability at the Fairgrounds
Skagit County Public Health made first-dose appointments available for the week of March 8th on Saturday, March 6th at 9 a.m. New appointment availability is announced each Saturday at 9:00 a.m. on our webpage: www.skagitcounty.net/covidvaccine, though appointments may be added throughout the week depending on availability.
Those who do not have internet access, do not speak English as a first language or have otherwise struggled to access a vaccine clinic through the website are encouraged to call our Vaccine Hotline at 360-416-1500. Both English and Spanish speaking call takers are available. The Hotline is operated 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Vaccine Appointment Spacing
We absolutely understand that getting a vaccine is an exciting moment, and you might be nervous about making your appointment on time. However, please try and arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your appointment time at the Skagit County Fairgrounds Clinic. By doing so, you help to space out appointment times and allow staff to process people more efficiently. Thank you!
Vaccine Eligibility Phase Updates
Last week, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) added K-12 educators, school staff, and childcare workers to Washington’s current vaccination phase, which is Phase 1b-Tier 1, effective as of March 2, 2021. To determine your eligibility, visit: www.findyourphasewa.org. If you are a newly eligible, check with your employer to learn about priority appointments that may be available to you through the Federal Pharmacy Program. That said, all enrolled vaccine providers are directed to vaccinate these workers as they would anyone else currently eligible.
On March 3rd, Governor Inlsee also announced an updated projected timeline for making more Washingtonians eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Among these updates was the announcement that beginning March 22nd, workers in certain congregate settings will be eligible, as well as people age 16+ who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at higher risk. More direction on these changes will be provided in the coming days.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Vaccine
The J&J COVID-19 vaccine is a single-dose vaccine that can help prevent COVID-19 and is approved for those 18 years and older.
The vaccine is highly effective. According to the Emergency Use Authorization, it prevents 66% of moderate COVID-19 symptoms, is 85% effective at preventing severe COVID-19 and 100% effective at preventing death from COVID-19. No serious safety concerns were found in the clinical trials or the FDA’s scientific review. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup both recommend the vaccine based on its safety and efficacy.
For more information about RmNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) and the new Viral Vector vaccine (J&J), visit: https://bit.ly/3sZUX4D.
COVID Testing Site to Close Permanently
As a reminder, the COVID-19 Testing Site at the Skagit County Fairgrounds will be closing permanently after Friday, March 12th. For a list of other testing providers, visit: http://bit.ly/2OCj5uY.
Additional Resources.
- For more information about the Skagit County COVID-19 Clinic at the Fairgrounds, please visit: skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
- Need assistance? Call the Vaccine Hotline at (360) 416-1500.
|
