Meals on Wheels of Greater Spokane County has partnered with Safeway to offer vaccines to their volunteers and clients who are currently eligible to get vaccinated in Washington.
About half of the state's population 65 and older has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, meaning more than 600,000 still-eligible residents are still in the queue.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Tuesday that educators, school staff and licensed child care workers would be added to the current tier of residents eligible to be vaccinated in Washington.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which federal agencies approved over the weekend, could get to Washington later this week, although the Department of Health has not decided where it will go yet.
There have been no influenza deaths reported in Washington state to date, an incredible data point compared to this point last year when 70 residents had died from the flu.
Gonzaga University hopes to become a vaccine distributor soon, with a focus on vaccinating community members throughout Spokane who are eligible for the vaccine.
Despite a decline in COVID-19 cases in Spokane County, health officials are asking for vigilance in following public health guidance with the possibility of more contagious variants at the region's doorstep.
Statewide and local hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients has declined in 2021, and health officials hope that continued adherence to masking and distancing will keep driving these numbers down.
After vaccine doses were delayed due to winter weather last week, many sites are receiving both this week's and last week's doses today to catch up on appointments that had to be rescheduled this week.
Vaccine appointments could continue to be postponed due to weather delaying dose delivery, and if you are scheduled for an appointment this week, be sure to check for updates from the provider or site.
While first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are limited this week and weather poses a delivery issue, Washington state residents might have opportunities to book appointments at Albertsons, Costco and Health Mart pharmacies, where the federal government has allocated additional doses separate from the state’s allotted shipments .
A statewide coalition plans to target local, community-based organization for grant funds in the coming weeks to increase equity and access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Friday, the Pacific Islander Community Association, health district and CHAS hosted the first community vaccine clinic targeted to Pacific Islander elders in Spokane County.
The state's East region, which includes Spokane and eight other counties, will join most of the state in moving to the next phase, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday.