To Date, Seattle Fire Department Has Vaccinated 3,481 Vulnerable Seattle Residents Through Mobile Vaccination Teams
Seattle Fire Department to Begin Providing Second Dose of Vaccine to Residents and Workers at Adult Family Homes
SEATTLE (February 10, 2021) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced the City of Seattle’s plan for the upcoming week of vaccinations administered by the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVT). Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) provided the City of Seattle with 600 first doses of the Moderna vaccine, and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) granted the City’s allocation request for 400 second doses. This week, the SFD MVTs will continue providing first doses of the vaccine to Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible older adults living in affordable housing buildings, and Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible older adults through a pop-up vaccination clinic in partnership with the Central Area Senior Center. The Seattle Fire Department will also begin administering the second dose to residents and workers at Adult Family Homes throughout Seattle this week.
“Our Mobile Vaccination Teams have vaccinated some of the most vulnerable Seattle residents and workers. 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 community, and we’re ready and able to vaccinate more eligible workers and vulnerable older adults,” said Mayor Durkan. “I’m immensely grateful to our partners at Public Health – Seattle & King County for providing us vaccine this week, which allows us to continue vaccinating highly vulnerable, historically underserved communities. We are continuing to work with our partners at DOH to increase our crucial work to serve our vulnerable communities.”
In total, the City has vaccinated 3,481 vulnerable Seattle residents and workers since launching its vaccination effort on January 14, 2021. These vaccinations have occurred at 86 Adult Family Homes, 23 affordable housing buildings with seniors, and five pop-ups.
Due to limited supply, this week the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) allocated the City 400 second doses (boosters) but did not allocate the City’s weekly request for 1,000 first doses of vaccine for new vaccinations. Due to strong stewardship by Seattle Fire Department and strong partnerships, the City is able to use doses provided by PHSKC to proceed with its planned schedule for the week. The City had a minimal number of existing doses on-hand due to SFD’s ability to secure 11 doses of the vaccine out of each vial, which the manufacturers projected to contain 10 doses.
In the coming week, the City intends to vaccinate highly vulnerable residents and workers at affordable housing buildings for older adults through partnerships with Kawabe House, the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and Seattle Housing Authority (SHA). Residents at Kawabe House, LIHI, and SHA are Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible under DOH’s vaccination timeline, and are low-income.
In addition, the City of Seattle will partner with the Central Area Senior Center (CASC) to host a pop-up vaccination clinic that will focus on 400 Phase 1B, Tier 1 eligible African American and Black older adults in the Central District. CASC is a Black-led organization that has served African American older adults for over 50 years. In King County, Black residents – who represent 6.4% of the countywide population – are significantly over-represented in confirmed cases (11.9%) and hospitalizations (11.0%). In Seattle, Black and Indigenous individuals have the highest rate of death due to COVID-19.
“Since we began partnering on vaccination efforts, the Central’s phone has been ringing off the hook. So many of our elders are calling to say thank you, thank you for making this happen for us. So many of our elders are happy to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and have tried many times without success to secure an appointment. The vaccination clinic with the City of Seattle means life and the continuation of life for us. One member said, ‘My birthday was yesterday, but my real gift is knowing I can get vaccinated on Thursday,’” said Dian Ferguson, Executive Director of the Central Area Senior Center.
For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/vaccine. The City’s vaccination website is available 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.