SEATTLE (December 2, 2021) – Following the launches of the City’s three clinics in South Lake Union, West Seattle, and Rainier Beach, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and community partners announced extended hours for the South Lake Union clinic at the Amazon Meeting Center. Today’s announcement follows the news that the CDC is now recommending boosters for every individual age 18 and older to help protect against the Omicron variant.
Beginning on Saturday, December 11, the South Lake Union Clinic will have expanded hours individuals can receive their first, second, or booster shot of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The South Lake Union Clinic will now operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., adding capacity for up to 2,000 additional poses per day compared to the previous hours for a total of around 5,500 doses per day. City of Seattle clinics have administered nearly 300,000 vaccine doses, including over 17,000 at the South Lake Union clinic.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, Seattle has led the way on COVID-19 with the fewest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of any major U.S. city, and we did that by following the science. While we are still learning more about the Omicron variant, the science remains clear that vaccines and boosters are the best way to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community from COVID-19. As we move into the holiday season and join with friends and family more frequently indoors, being vaccinated and getting tested after possible exposure becomes even more important,” said Mayor Durkan. “Thanks to our partners at Amazon, Swedish, and Virginia Mason, the extended hours of the South Lake Union clinic will add capacity to administer thousands more doses of the safe, free, and life-saving vaccine. Through our partnerships we can continue to ensure the City of Seattle remains one of the most vaccinated cities in the country.”
“Amazon is pleased to work with its partners to expand the hours of the South Lake Union Vaccination Clinic,” said Katie Hughes, Amazon’s senior manager for global environmental, health and safety. “We remain committed to doing what we can to ensure that our communities have access to COVID-19 vaccines.”
The City will continue to partner with Amazon, Swedish, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to host a high-volume COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Amazon Meeting Center, located at 2031 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121. The clinic will operate Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Swedish and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health will both serve clinical providers and will offer first, second, and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine. In-person interpretation in American Sign Language, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese will be available at this hub. Proof of insurance and identification are not required; proof of vaccination is recommended for those receiving second or booster doses. Details, including hours of operation and the vaccines offered, are available at www.seattle.gov/vaccine and patients can register for an appointment at any City site at https://seattle.signetic.com/
“We are excited to continue to participate in this important partnership which expands equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for our local community. The vaccine is our best tool to combat the ongoing pandemic and we strongly encourage fully vaccinated individuals that are 18 and over to get their booster shot. We also encourage those who are five years and older to please get the vaccine, if they haven’t already, to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community,” said Chris Baliga, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.
“It is our honor to be reconnected with the City to continue vaccinating our community,” said Swedish Chief Quality Officer Renee Rassilyer-Bomers. “We had a lot of success at the Community Vaccination Site at Lumen Field, giving more than 100,000 vaccinations in just a few short months. We know the work isn’t done. We are here to serve our community and we urge everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated, who can get vaccinated, to take that important step to helping end the pandemic by getting your shot.”
The City’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) has partnered with a number of community-based organizations to make available in-language helplines. These phone numbers are for immigrant and refugee residents who are limited English proficient and/or have limited access to the internet to ask questions and/or find vaccination opportunities. More information on the OIRA Vaccine Community Helplines is available here.
Amazon recently partnered with the City of Seattle to distribute over 24,000 masks to Seattle small businesses including nearly a dozen Business Improvement Area in Seattle.
As the first major U.S. city impacted by COVID-19, Seattle pioneered efforts for municipal response pioneered efforts for municipal response with innovative approaches to community support, testing, and vaccinations. On June 9, 2021, Seattle became the first major American city to vaccinate 70 percent of its residents 12 and older.