VACCINATION: City launches permanent clinic in West Seattle

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from ‘pilot’ vaccination clinic at SWAT, February 18th)

After “pilot periods,” West Seattle now has a permanent city-run vaccination site.

One big catch, though – no public appointments yet – it’s referral-only TFN.

The city announced this morning that the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot site where it’s been giving COVID-19 tests six days a week is now one of two Community Testing and Vaccination Clinics, along with Rainier Beach.

For starters, the city announcement says, each of the two clinics will administer about 1,000 doses of vaccine weekly. The Seattle Fire Department-run sites could give up to 1,000 doses a day if and when that much vaccine becomes available. But for now, here’s how the city announcement says eligibility will work:

Because supply remains limited, registration for both vaccination clinics will be focused on referral-only registrations, with no public registration option available. Due to limited supply, walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Vaccination rates of people 65 and older in West Seattle and Rainier Beach continue to lag behind the rest of King County. Less than half of people ages 65 or older have been vaccinated in these ZIP codes. The disparities are especially pronounced for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The City’s Aging & Disability Services division, Department of Neighborhoods, and Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs have been partnering with over 50 community-based and faith-based organizations primarily serving BIPOC communities, older adults, and immigrants and refugees to register people for the clinics. During its initial pilot period in February, 83 percent of those who registered for the Rainier Beach clinic identified as BIPOC; 40 percent of those who registered for the West Seattle clinic identified as BIPOC.

(The pilot periods at the West Seattle site (2801 SW Thistle) included this one and this one.)

The city also announced today that it will open a mass-vaccination site soon at the Lumen Field Event Center, run by Swedish, with about 5,000 doses each week in the beginning, with the ability to scale up to 150,000 a week if and when vaccine is available. The announcement says this clinic will offer public appointments to eligible recipients once it opens around the middle of the month.

Vanessa March 1, 2021 (8:48 am)

With the West Seattle Bridge still out, how much more traffic can our West Seattle Neighborhoods handle? Hooray for the availability of the Vaccines for our community, but I think choosing West Seattle as a location is a little insane.

WSB March 1, 2021 (9:41 am)

If I wasn’t clear, this is FOR people in West Seattle so they don’t have to go elsewhere. The mass site mentioned toward the end is in SODO.
- Vanessa March 1, 2021 (9:53 am)
  
  Thanks, Tracy and Crew!!

Eddie March 1, 2021 (9:35 am)

Can you or someone elaborate on what a “referal” is or how it works, how does someone get a referral.Thanks

WSB March 1, 2021 (9:55 am)

In short, it’s “don’t call us, we’ll call you.” For example – the referrals that reader Ann, who kindly let us know when she was invited to the “pilot” clinics, were from a UW Medicine mailing list of eligible people. The Senior Center of WS was one of the social service agencies mentioned in referrals that booked people for the first “pilot,” at which the mayor, fire chief, CM Herbold etc. had a photo op. So far what I’ve quoted above is all the info I have; if I find out anything else, I’ll add – TR

Lisa March 1, 2021 (10:03 am)

Wonderful news!

Chris March 1, 2021 (10:18 am)

Curious if this clinic is one where you stay in car and get vaccine, or do you go inside. Thanks.AND thank you for this. I have a senior who had a cancelled vaccine and I have been trying my hardest to find another appt. As are others, I am sure, I am getting very frustrated.

WSB March 1, 2021 (11:10 am)

This is outdoors, walk up, not drive up. Same place/methodology as the testing they’ve been doing. Ample parking steps away as it’s on the south side of the SWAC parking lot.
- Mark Schletty March 1, 2021 (12:23 pm)
  
  FYI— if it is the same as the testing, they will do drive up at the tents if you have handicap plates or placards. Really helped me get tested earlier.

Chris March 1, 2021 (10:21 am)

I have been using the Safeway link to reschedule cancelled appointment and after seeing “this link has expired” I think I have been wasting time on it. Suspect my checking it all day yesterday may have been a loss. Has anyone any input on that? Thanks.

BW March 1, 2021 (10:42 am)

Are there opportunities to volunteer at the West Seattle vaccine clinic?

TM March 1, 2021 (1:10 pm)

I did ask onsite Saturday about volunteering, I was told no need at this time.I’m wondering if there would be a pathway to providing seniors rides there and back? Seems a little tricky but I bet there is a need.

TFN March 1, 2021 (10:56 am)

Hello, what does TFN stand for?

WSB March 1, 2021 (11:09 am)

Till further notice.

trickycoolj March 1, 2021 (11:05 am)

I wish the major medical groups in the city would recognize the need for more clinics in our part of town, bridge issues aside. I could save a ton on insurance premiums at work if UW would come to our part of town, but I keep having to select a full PPO plan to make sure I can go to the few urgent care providers we do have over here.

K March 1, 2021 (11:13 am)

It would be nice if the city could reinstate the 22 bus which has a stop directly in front of this site. Those that are bus dependent need to walk from Westwood Village or walk uphill from Delridge Ave.

anonyme March 2, 2021 (6:49 am)

Absolutely right. The 22 serves areas not otherwise accessible without a car. Elimination of this route has made the completion of simple tasks impossible for a number of people who were/are reliant on it.

Flivver March 1, 2021 (12:01 pm)

Luckily i’ve gotten my 1st, and an appointment for my 2nd. My Swedish dr’s were of NO help. Every message to them got the reply of “we have no information on when, or if we’ll get vaccine”. For the year + they’ve known a vaccine would be coming the state/county/city/hospitals/clinics have proven they were asleep at the wheel.

Lee Bui March 1, 2021 (5:55 pm)

Yes, agreed. Swedis Hopitals and it’s clinics are too slow taken care for their seniors patients.
Phoebe March 3, 2021 (3:39 pm)

Swedish, Polyclinic and other providers have not been given adequate vaccine. In mid-February, my NP told me that Polyclinic had received a total of 100 doses. Not enough to even cover their staff. Rather than blaming them, let’s focus energy on the decentralized approach to appointments and delivery, as that is the real issue here.

My two cents ... March 1, 2021 (3:56 pm)

@flivver try the main Swedish sitehttps://coronavirus.providence.org/swedish/covid-vaccine

James Clark March 1, 2021 (4:46 pm)

The one in the Sealth Stadium Parking lot you go inside Truck Containers that have been modified with a small office and a place to do the vacination. After the shot I stayed in my car for the 15 min’s

Flivver March 1, 2021 (6:42 pm)

My 2 cents. My complaint with Swedish is that their clinic at Seattle U was open to all but NEVER showed up on “My Chart”. I NEVER got a heads up that they were giving vaccines.; Note :as of tonight STILL have not heard a word from Swedish about getting a shot. I got lucky and found one on my own.