Less than three percent of county residents have received both doses

As of Tuesday, 2.55 percent of Thurston County residents have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, said Schelli Slaughter, director of Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.

That number comes at a time that rates of COVID-19 transmission have consistently dropped across the county. It also comes at a time when the distribution of the vaccine appears to be lagging, with no new doses expected to arrive in Thurston County this week.

Commissioner Gary Edwards noted that the vaccines aren’t intended for use for certain age groups (the Pfizer vaccine is cleared for use on people 16 and older while Moderna is cleared for 18 and older. Most of the vaccines in Thurston County are Moderna, which are easier to store, said Slaughter). So, while 2.55 of the population has been vaccinated, not everyone in the county is eligible for vaccination, depending on their age.

This coming week, Thurston County can expect to receive 300 doses, and officials don’t expect to receive any new doses this week. That comes at a time when 10 percent of Thurston County residents have initiated the process of receiving the first dose of the vaccine — which requires two doses to be effective.

The Seattle Times reported on Sunday that Washington state’s distribution fell short of its plan. The report notes that 19 percent of vaccines are allocated to be sent to local health departments.

On a national level, President Joe Biden recently announced an uptick in doses to be sent to states, CNBC reported today. That came shortly after the announcement that the federal government purchased 200 million additional doses. All the while, a third vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson which only requires a single dose is expected to clear the Food and Drug Administration.

Vaccines arriving in Thurston County next week will be used as second doses for people that have already received their first. That’s a statewide initiative, said Slaughter, as Washington officials try to get people all the way through the vaccination process.

“We’re hopeful that in about the next three weeks or so, we’ll start to see an increase in vaccination supplies,” said Slaughter. “And I know the state is also working on plans to provide allocations for greater than one week at a time.”

Who is currently eligible to receive vaccine? 

Currently, roughly 70,000 residents are eligible for vaccination under the state’s phased plan. According to the county’s health department, they are:

Phase 1A Tier 1

• High-risk workers in health care settings
• High-risk medical first responder
• Residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other community-based, congregate living settings where most individuals over 65 years of age are receiving care, supervision, or assistance

Phase 1A Tier 2

•  All workers in health care settings

Phase 1B Tier 1

•  All people 65 years and older
•  People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households
• Cannot live independently and receives support from a relative or home caregiver, or being cared for by someone who works outside the home
• Lives with and cares for a young child, along the lines of a grandparent with a grandchild

This group does not include an older adult who is able to live independently and is taking care of their kin/children.

More information

For more information about where and how to get vaccinated in Thurston County, check this website.