information from the City of Seattle

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced the City of Seattle’s plan for vaccinations administered by the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVT). Last week, the City of Seattle had 3,000 first doses of the Moderna vaccine and 2,000 second doses of the Moderna vaccine. This temporary doubling of the City’s weekly allocation is caused by severe winter storms nationwide, which delayed the shipment of last week’s doses. The vast majority of last week’s appointments were not impacted due to additional doses from health care providers.

Last week, the SFD MVTs  continued providing first doses of the vaccine to Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible older adults living in affordable housing buildings, and has already vaccinated Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible Filipino elders through a partnership with the Filipino Community of Seattle. In addition, the temporary increase in doses allowed the City to pilot two COVID-19 Community Testing & Vaccination Sites in Rainier Beach and West Seattle as of Monday. A larger site at Lumen Field is set to open in mid march. The West Seattle site is at the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot on SW Thistle Street, opposite Chief Sealth International High School.

Only 1000 doses will be available this week but up to 1000 per day is the plan as more vaccine become available.

“Seattle’s road to reopening and economic recovery starts with vaccinations. Our Mobile Vaccination Teams have vaccinated some of the most vulnerable Seattle residents and workers, and our Seattle Fire Department is now piloting sites in South Seattle and West Seattle to connect more of our residents to vaccines. The vast majority of people vaccinated by the City identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, and many face other systemic barriers to vaccination including mobility challenges, speaking a language other than English, and being uninsured. Our mobile teams are best positioned to focus on addressing disparities in our communities, and we’re ready and able to vaccinate more eligible workers and vulnerable older adults when supply increases,” said Mayor Durkan. “Even as more of us begin to get vaccinated, we’ll need to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following all public health guidance.”

This week, SFD is piloting COVID-19 Community Testing & Vaccination Sites in Rainier Beach and West Seattle. Each site is located at existing SFD COVID-19 testing sites, and is only open to a limited number of appointments this week due to constrained vaccine supply and in order ensure successful operations of both testing and vaccinations on site. From Wednesday through Saturday, SFD expects to vaccinate 1,400 Phase 1A and Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible Seattle residents and workers at the Rainier Beach site. On Friday and Saturday, SFD expects to vaccinate 600 Phase 1A and Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible Seattle residents and workers at the West Seattle site. All appointments for both temporary clinics have been filled, and the City partnered with over 50 BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations in Central, South, and West Seattle to register individuals for the clinics, with a focus on people who are 65 and older who live in areas of West and South Seattle most impacted by COVID-19 cases.

With this week’s remaining doses, the SFD MVTs will also provide the first dose of the vaccine to residents at nine affordable housing locations with older adults, and one community pop-up with the Filipino Community of Seattle. At this pop-up, the City vaccinated approximately 300 Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible people, with a focus on Filipino elders who have been unable to secure vaccine elsewhere due to digital and language barriers.

“Seattle elders in Districts 1 and 2 are lagging significantly behind the rest of the County in accessing lifesaving vaccine – despite West Seattle being home to the highest concentration of vulnerable 80+ year olds. This situation exacerbated by the lack of authorized vaccine providers and mobility problems on the West Seattle peninsula. Last week Seattle City Council passed a resolution affirming that vaccine must be prioritized for those most impacted by the pandemic. Between the recent popup vaccination clinics and the Fire Department’s Mobile Vaccination Teams, the City is making good on that promise by speeding vaccine to those who are most at risk of death from Covid,” said Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1, West Seattle / South Park).

Since launching its vaccination effort on January 14, the City of Seattle has administered 7,814 vaccinations to eligible Seattleites. The City has provided 6,883 vulnerable Seattleites the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 931 Seattleites the second dose of the vaccine. These vaccinations have occurred at 86 Adult Family Homes, 39 affordable housing buildings with seniors, seven pop-ups, and two community clinic pilots. Roughly 70 percent of those vaccinated by the City identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.

For more information, visit the City’s vaccination website at www.seattle.gov/vaccine. The site contains vaccination information in seven languages, and in-language assistance is also available over the phone.

Even as more residents get vaccinated, public health measures like social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing your hands remain critical. Please continue to follow all public health guidance, and visit this website from Public Health – Seattle & King County for more information.