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Mayor Jenny Durkan Statement on Governor Inslee’s Decision to Soon Expand Vaccine Eligibility to All People 16 and Older

SEATTLE (March 31, 2021) – Mayor Jenny A. Durkan issued the following statement on Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement that all Washington residents 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination on April 15:

“Governor Inslee’s decision to open up vaccine eligibility will reduce confusion in our communities and help cities, hospitals, and health care providers across our state vaccinate more people as quickly as possible. Seattle is ready to significantly expand our vaccination efforts. With the addition of our new vaccine site in North Seattle, the City is now able to administer up to 168,000 shots each week.

“But in Seattle and across our region, the demand for vaccinations far outpaces our current supply. However, President Biden and the White House have committed to significantly increasing supply in April and May, and it’s critical that we see a significant increase to meet demand. I will continue to work with Governor Inslee, our federal delegation, and the White House to secure more doses for our region as supply increases. This is particularly important in Seattle, where our appointment waitlist is nearly seven times our weekly supply.

“Vaccine providers must still be deliberate and focused on their distribution approach – as the City has been – to ensure we continue to reach vulnerable communities. The City of Seattle’s vaccination efforts show that if a provider is committed, they can vaccinate people equitably without sacrificing speed. Roughly 55 percent of those we have vaccinated identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, including 70 percent through our mobile teams,” said Mayor Durkan.

Earlier today, Mayor Durkan announced a new Community Vaccination Hub operated by Seattle Visiting Nurse Association at North Seattle College. The site at North Seattle College will be the fourth City-affiliated fixed vaccination site, in addition to the Lumen Field Event Center, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle.

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) eligible members of the public can sign up now for the City’s vaccination appointment notification list. Once eligible members of the public sign up for the City’s notification list, they will receive an email notification when vaccination appointments become available at any of the four City-affiliated fixed sites: North Seattle, Rainier Beach, West Seattle, and the Lumen Field Event Center.

The notification list is available here, and residents can also contact the Customer Service Bureau at 206-684-2489 from Monday through Saturday, between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for assistance completing this form. In-language assistance is available over the phone.

For more information, including the notification list, 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.

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