VACCINATION: City closing West Seattle hub in three weeks

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle’s COVID-19 vaccination hub will close after June 9th. We confirmed that with mayoral spokesperson Kelsey Nyland today, after a tip from Jim, who had just gotten a first dose there and been told the second dose would have to happen elsewhere. Nyland tells WSB that the West Seattle hub has given 48,135 doses of vaccine in three months, but it’s closing “due to a significant drop in demand.” She sent this chart to explain:

Nyland added, “Even with a temporary surge when 12 – 15 year-olds became eligible, demand at the West Seattle hub has been plummeting over the last month, and it has gotten to a point where it does not make operational sense for the Seattle Fire Department to continue staffing the hub. The City will not launch additional fixed sites in West Seattle, but the SFD Mobile Vaccination will continue to be in West Seattle as part of the ongoing efforts to bring the vaccine directly to Seattle residents.”

Last Saturday’s Junction pop-up, which resulted in 93 vaccinations, was part of that, and the city’s also sending its mobile teams to local breweries as well as the school clinics we’ve mentioned – public schools here, charter and private schools here (the Summit Atlas dates, not available when we published the linked story, are May 27th and June 17th).

Nyland also noted, “Across West Seattle, nearly 80% of residents have started the vaccination process, and nearly 60% are fully vaccinated. This incredible trend leads the national average, and West Seattle has some of the highest vaccination rates in King County. Because of this, along with SFD’s ongoing mobile and in-school operations, and the community health clinics, pharmacies, and primary care providers administering vaccine in the area, we are confident West Seattle will continue to have accessible and convenient vaccination opportunities.”

The hub in the parking lot at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) started as a testing site last August, then added vaccinations in March, then stopped offering testing in mid-April. But you can still go there to get vaccinated – no appointment needed – through June 9th.

sam-c May 20, 2021 (8:31 pm)

Hmmm. when we went on Wednesday, (teen vaccination) it was actually as busy, if not busier than when we went in mid-April. Hope people still continue to seek out their vaccinations if they still need it to get it, even if they have to leave our island… Guess we make it in under the wire with vacc # 2 on June 9…

1994 May 20, 2021 (9:05 pm)

C’mon you 20 percenters – get the vaccine! When the 80 percenters are getting our booster in a year or so I hope the 20 percenters will be caught up to the herd.

Ws resident May 20, 2021 (10:02 pm)

I took my 17 year old for his 2nd dose on Wednesday at noon and it was crazy busy! They even had a separate trailer doing testing along with giving vaccines. I’m glad I’ll be able to get my 13 year olds 2nd vaccine there on June 4th!

Smittytheclown May 21, 2021 (6:49 am)

I bet West Seattle finishes close to 90% of those eligible being vaccinated. That’s fantastic and well over even the highest herd immunity numbers (started at 55% and slowly increased to 80% over the course of the pandemic). Well done, folks. Well done. “Independence” Day indeed!

Rara May 21, 2021 (7:02 am)

I think once the vaccines are fully approved by the FDA more people will get vaccinated. Sounds like the two of them are getting ready to submit their applications.

Lor May 21, 2021 (7:30 am)

I went to this location for both of my doses and it was so quick and easy. Great experience.

JL May 21, 2021 (9:10 am)

Thanks WSB for this update! City of Seattle Covid-19 website has not been updated with this information. You can also still schedule your second shot at West Seattle. They need to update that as well to show your 2nd shot at a different location. I would have wished that they continued letting us West Seattleites be able to get our 2nd shot there as they wind down the operation.

Nicole May 21, 2021 (10:28 am)

This was such a well run city partnership. We had tests there previously -and vaccines once it was time. Set up made sense, Results were always fast/easily accessible and people doing the work were awesome. The city, fire department and UW should be given a standing ovation.

anonyme May 23, 2021 (7:03 am)

Agreed. This site was very well run; if only the rest of the city would learn from example! Getting a shot from a handsome firefighter was an additional bonus…