Washington State Opens New Categories of Eligibility for Vaccinations
400,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States, but light is visible at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are available, and Washington State recently opened new categories of eligibility. Don’t call your doctor to see if you’re eligible. Instead, visit Washington’s handy Find Your Phase website.
In addition to healthcare providers and residents of long-term care facilities (phase 1A, tier 1 and 2), two other categories of people can get vaccinated. Elders who are 65 or older can get the shot. Also eligible: adults 50 and older who are living in what Washington State calls “multi-generational households”. People in this category are over 50 and fit one of two guidelines. One group cannot live independently and is being cared for by someone from another generation. The second group may be able to live independently, but is taking care of a youth (for example, a grandchild), who is not their own child.
Many residents who fit these categories have already been contacted by their primary care provider’s office. If you believe you’re eligible and have not received a call, you have a few options. First, Klickitat Valley Hospital’s Covid Vaccine hotline goes live at 8am on Friday, 1/22. 509.773.4029. A second option is to call the Klickitat County Health Department in either Goldendale or White Salmon. Residents of Skamania County can call the Skamania County Health Department to schedule a vaccination. Primary care clinics such as Northshore Medical Group, Klickitat Valley Health, and Skyline Family Medicine are also running vaccine clinics. This coordination is made possible by frequent communication between all the Klickitat County hospitals and clinics, an effort spearheaded by Klickitat Valley Hospital.
Contributed Photo: Temira Lital receives a vaccination.
For some people, being eligible for a vaccine when others are not leads to a desire to hold off so others have access. Providers recommend that you take the shot if offered. According to Jim Semlor at Klickitat Valley Hospital, agencies risk having their vaccine allocation reduced if 95% of shots don’t find their way into arms within a week. By taking the vaccine, you’re helping ensure that more vials arrive in our community. Debi Budnick at Skyline Health recommends getting the vaccine because “people getting in now cuts down on community transmission, and that’s what we need!”. One last consideration: once thawed or removed from an ultra-cold freezer, currently authorized vaccines have a shelf life of days. Local providers are adamant that they don’t want to see any doses wasted.
Even with the vaccine rollout happening nationwide, the best plan of action at this time is a multi-pronged approach at virus control. Vaccine supply is far less than demand. The vaccine is the end game, according to a former Columbia Gorge Community Medicine primary care provider. Focusing on vaccines places us in a victim role, but there’s plenty each person can do right now. There are effective control measures that work immediately and will slow the virus down: wear a mask, wash your hands, and limit your gatherings with others, especially indoor gatherings. And while you’re doing all that, visit the Phase Finder and see if your turn has arrived!
Source. Detailed information about vaccines is starting to become available. Follow this link www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/vaccine for the latest information from the Washington State Health Department.
Source: Klickitat County Health Department. Klickitat County goes to Phase 1 on January 25th.
