Gov. Inslee, Amazon announce pop-up vaccine clinic in Seattle on Jan. 24
Jan 21, 2021, 3:05 PM | Updated: 9:29 pm
Gov. Jay Inslee on Jan. 21, 2021. (TVW)
(TVW)
One year after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Washington state — which was also the first case in the United States — Gov. Inslee provided an update on the state’s pandemic response, including the announcement of a pop-up vaccination clinic to be held in Seattle on Sunday.
Amazon is establishing this pop-up clinic in partnership with Virginia Mason. It will be held on Sunday, Jan. 24, in Seattle, with a goal to reach 2,000 vaccinations in one day. This clinic is available to anyone eligible for vaccinations in the state’s Phase 1A or Phase 1B, tier 1. At the pop-up, patients will then be scheduled for their second shots.
Gary Kaplin, Virginia Mason CEO and chairman, said Amazon is providing the facility and set-up, as well as face coverings, signage, wayfinding, and even free parking with access to an elevator. Virginia Mason is providing all medical supplies, vaccines, and volunteers.
As a reminder, Kaplin said whether you have insurance or not, you will not be charged for the vaccine.
The pop-up will be at the large Amazon meeting center in the South Lake Union area of Seattle. If you are eligible and interested in attending this clinic, sign up on Virginia Mason’s vaccine wait list here. That list will then be converted to appointments.
For those who are eligible to receive the vaccine now and are already on Virginia Mason’s waitlist, Kaplin said to keep an eye out for an invitation in the next day or two to register for this event.
As far as the state’s current vaccination progress, Gov. Inslee said the state is exceeding 16,000 doses per day, reaching up to 25,000 doses in the last 24 hours. It’s still short of the statewide goal, but 45,000 doses won’t be reached until Washington receives more doses from the federal government.
Here are the latest numbers on number of vaccinations given in WA state as far as doses sent to state and making it into arms. @KIRORadio #waleg pic.twitter.com/Vi1WexGjJQ
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) January 21, 2021
Gov. Inslee said Washington is 13th in the nation in total vaccinations.
Moving forward, as Washington inches closer to 45,000 doses per day, four mass vaccination sites are set to open as soon as next week, which Inslee says will be “staffed significantly” by National Guard members to help with both logistics and some vaccination work.
The governor also acknowledged on the one year anniversary of the first COVID case that the steps Washingtonians have taken to protect against the spread of the virus have worked, and have saved lives.
“I do think it’s important to realize that the things we have been doing have had success,” Inslee said. “… We are saving lives today. We saved lives in the past. And we are going to continue to save lives in the future in this state by making good decisions based on science and our love for fellow Washingtonians.”
