By Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – The response to Thursday’s first drive-through vaccination event was by all accounts overwhelming, as far more people tried to get in line than they could handle, and many had to be turned away.

Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain was on the scene Thursday morning and had this message for those planning to come back on one of the later days.

“From the traffic perspective, you know, people are clearly anxious and excited and really want to get the vaccine. And so we had people lining up very, very, very early, not knowing how fast can the shot process go, etc, etc. What I will say is, we can’t really control how soon people want to line up for the event. So if you see traffic backed up past the Chamber of Commerce towards the Black Bear Diner on Washington, then you should come back a different day. What I would ask for people is, don’t block traffic, don’t cut in line. This is a process that we’re all working our way through. Let’s all be patient.”

Hosted by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Family Health Clinic on a first come, first served basis, their goal is to vaccinate 500 people per day in the 5-day event.

County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank warned us last week that your best bet was to attend one of the later days. If you were one of those turned away this morning, she says there should be plenty to go around.

“My understanding is the Tribe has adequate doses of vaccine to make it through all four (actually, it’s 5) of the days. And so I think that should help assuage some fears. I think a lot of folks felt like they had to get into this first day, but there’s other days that you can come to, and they do have enough doses to cover all those days.”

The other days coming up are January 16, 19, 21 and 23.

Dr. Unthank doesn’t think they’ll be able to vaccinate everyone in the county over 70 in these first events in Sequim and Port Angeles, but they’re hoping to get a steady-enough supply to begin hosting these events 3 times per week in the near future.