By Pepper Fisher
CLALLAM COUNTY – As promised, today the Washington State Department of Health released guidance for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccination.
Phase 1B, expected to begin in the Sequim area next week and in Port Angeles the following week, is broken up into four separate tiers.
Broadly, groups eligible for vaccination in phase 1B include:
(Tier 1) All people 70 years and older, and people 50 years and older who live in multi-generational households.
(Tier 2) High risk critical workers 50 years and older who work in certain congregate settings such as Agriculture; food processing; grocery stores; K-12 teachers and school staff; childcare; prison and jail staff; public transit.
(Tier 3) People 16 years or older with two or more co-morbidities or underlying conditions.
(Tier 4) High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings under 50 years of age, staff and volunteers in congregate living settings like group homes.
It’s important to note that the rest of the state is not moving into phase 1B, but because the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes Medical Clinic is sharing their surplus of vaccines, we in Clallam County are moving ahead of the curve.
We asked County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank for an update on the progress of getting those venues lined up to begin the process. She says the Tribe’s clinic will handle the vaccinations in the Sequim area, and the Health Dept. will handle the Port Angeles community.
“Everything seems to be moving forward quite well for the East End. That’s really, primarily kind of a Jamestown operation at this point, so they can get more details on that. But for the Port Angeles locations, we should be ready to start…looks like our first weekend will be the 16th and 17th of this month.”
Dr. Unthank says that if you are on one of these 1B lists, the Health Dept. will have sign-ups coming soon.
“People are interested in how to get scheduled. We are going to be putting up scheduling software on our website. If not by the end of this week, then by early next week so that people can schedule a slot to get vaccinated. So no need to call to try to get on a list right now, but you should be able to schedule online starting next week.”
Jamestown Health Director Brent Simcosky told KONP that they hope to be able to move through the phases, or tiers, on a weekly basis, but added that it would depend on getting their scheduled doses in a timely manner.
This graphic shows the groups and the timeline for phase 1B.
(Jamestown Tribe photo)