King County launches COVID-19 vaccination sites in Kent and Auburn to provide access for vulnerable older adults – King County

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King County is launching two COVID-19 community vaccination sites on Monday, February 1 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent and at the General Services Administration (GSA) Complex in Auburn. These sites in south King County will reach those who are at highest risk from COVID-19 and face barriers to accessing vaccine through traditional healthcare systems.

Public Health has received enough vaccine doses from the state to begin operating the two sites at 500 doses per day, six days a week. These sites will position King County to be able to quickly scale up vaccination efforts and serve the broader community when more vaccine becomes available.

People age 75 and older have endured much higher rates of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 than any other group and face more challenges to getting vaccinated, such as transportation barriers and more limited internet access. In King County, 66% of the deaths from COVID-19 have been among those 75 and older, compared to those ages 65 to 74, who account for 19% of total deaths.

While the vaccine supply remains very limited, the Kent and Auburn sites will focus on vaccinating highest-risk south King County residents ages 75 and older, individuals who are unable to live independently and their caregivers. Appointment availability will expand to individuals age 65-74 as vaccine supply increases. Older adults in south King County are at particularly high risk, as rates of COVID-19 in many parts of south King County have been nearly twice as high compared to the county average.

This is all-hands-on-deck, coordinating County government with partners across the region to stand up community vaccination sites, said Executive Constantine. I share the frustration of not having enough vaccine from manufacturers, but we are determined to build the distribution infrastructure to quickly and fairly get shots to eligible people as soon as those doses are available, and to expand capacity ahead of the increasing supply.

With a limited supply of vaccine, we need to make the best use of every dose that comes to King County, said Patty Hayes, Director of Public Health Seattle & King County. The new high-volume vaccine sites will help us get life-saving vaccine to the highest risk King County residents. Were taking an equitable approach by starting in the part of our county thats been hardest hit by COVID-19. Im grateful to Executive Constantine and King County Council for the Countys investment and to our community partners for making this effort possible.

The sites at Kent and Auburn are by appointment only and will be open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 5:30 pm:

Beginning Saturday, January 30 at 8:00 am, residents can register for an appointment at Public Healths vaccine website, Getting Vaccinated in King County.

Currently, both vaccine supply and appointments are limited. Residents may experience delays, or it may take time before appointments are available due to anticipated high demand. This will get easier as the vaccine supply increases.

To help ensure access for those most at risk, currently registration is open to residents of south King County who are:

Assistance registering by phone: Call Washington states COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press # for help with registration by phone. For language interpretation state your preferred language when you are connected.

More information is available at Public Healths vaccination website.

The number of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine continues to rise. In King County, as of January 28, 174,000 people have received at least one dose. King County along with medical system partners has made great progress in vaccinating healthcare workers and staff and residents in long-term care facilities, including 100% of King County nursing home residents.

Public Health is also coordinating mobile vaccination teams with local fire departments to reach highest risk adults who cannot get to vaccination sites, including staff and residents of Adult Family Homes and vulnerable older adults living in low-income senior housing and permanent supportive housing.

Current supplies are not enough to meet the need. Doses coming into Washington are insufficient to reach eligible adults. King County has approximately 300,000 people who are newly eligible for vaccine under phase 1B1, which includes people over 65 years of age. But in the week starting January 25, King County only received 22,000 first doses. Thats enough for 1 in 12 who are eligible.

While supply continues to be uncertain, King County is working closely with businesses and community partnerships to be ready to stand up several vaccine access points across King County.

This is all-hands-on-deck, coordinating County government with partners across the region to stand up community vaccination sites. I share the frustration of not having enough vaccine from manufacturers, but we are determined to build the distribution infrastructure to quickly and fairly get shots to eligible people as soon as those doses are available, and to expand capacity ahead of the increasing supply.

As a family caregiver for my elderly frail mother, I know we are one of many in BIPOC and refugee and immigrant communities who take care of our elders at home, and have been bearing a disproportionate toll of the impact of COVID as we forego outside help and livelihoods in order to keep our loved ones safe. Thank you to King County and Public Health-Seattle & King County for prioritizing access for South King County residents, and for expanding on state guidance to include family caregivers of elders in home care.

Neighborhood House is eager to connect our 2,500 low-income, mostly immigrant and refugee seniors and people with disabilities living at home to access vaccine. Weve been helping them allay vaccine fears and will help arrange transportation to vaccine appointments. Until the vaccine is readily available, communities with the least access need to be prioritized. We are grateful to community providers, volunteers and King County for working so hard to keep our most vulnerable community members safe.

Older adults have expressed frustration, confusion and anxiety about how and where to obtain a vaccine, With the opening of vaccination sites in Auburn and Kent, older adults in south King County will now have greater access to vaccine appointments, as well as a location that is closer to home.

I want to thank the County for taking Kent up on its offer to use the accesso ShoWare Center to provide vaccines to our community. The sooner we can get supply and administer the vaccine, the sooner we can put COVID-19 in our rear-view mirror and move toward recovery. This has truly been a team effort between the County, City of Kent, public health officials and providers. I am thrilled to have Kent and South King County help lead the way back to a healthy and vibrant community.

We are grateful to King County, Public Health Seattle & King County and all of our partners for once again pulling in much needed resources to south King County where the need is the greatest. Auburn is a resilient and caring community; we are ready and will continue to do our part to accelerate vaccinations and improved health in King County.

We need to do everything we can to remove barriers that prevent South King County community members from getting a vaccine once they become eligible. Delays in federal distribution have slowed the process, but by establishing these high-volume sites, King County stands prepared to move quickly once those vaccines become available.

As our region has struggled with COVID-19 infections, South King County has been particularly hard hit. By increasing the access to vaccines in the South end, we will be able protect some of our most vulnerable residents and help fight this virus.

These vaccination sites will ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to quickly and efficiently push out doses as soon as theyre made available by the federal government and private industry.

The General Services Administration is proud to continue its partnership with our regional and local government agencies to vaccinate members of our communities. This combined effort is vital to containing the virus, saving lives, and is an example of federal, state, and local governments working together for the benefit of its citizens.

With a limited supply of vaccine, we need to make the best use of every dose that comes to King County. The new high-volume vaccine sites will help us get life-saving vaccine to the highest risk King County residents. Were taking an equitable approach by starting in the part of our county thats been hardest hit by COVID-19. Im grateful to Executive Constantine for the Countys investment and to our community partners for making this effort possible.

Public Health Information Officer

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King County launches COVID-19 vaccination sites in Kent and Auburn to provide access for vulnerable older adults - King County