COVID vaccine site prepares to launch at Microsoft campus in Redmond
Jan 26, 2021, 11:31 AM | Updated: 12:41 pm
A building on the Microsoft Headquarters campus is pictured July 17, 2014 in Redmond, Washington. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
(Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
The Microsoft campus in Redmond is expected to soft launch as a COVID-19 vaccine site as early as next week as two Eastside hospitals prepare to move their clinics.
State DOH says Phase 1B, Tier 1 could take months to get through
Overlake Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer Tom DeBord told KIRO Radio that his hospital will combine forces with Evergreen Health to provide staff and vaccine to the Microsoft site.
“Overlake and Evergreen would in essence pick our clinics up, move them to the Redmond campus — not duplicate it, we just don’t have the ability to have clinics here and there,” he explained.
“We’ve been planning that for the last few weeks. We’re optimistic that we can do this and do it in a safe environment,” he added.
DeBord says both hospitals should be able to greatly increase the number of shots they can give because they will have more space, and more help from Microsoft, Starbucks, and other corporate partners.
“A much larger facility with lots of parking, logistic support, security, et cetera, really, we think, can be a great thing for our community,” he said.
Where to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Washington state
If they get enough supply, DeBord believes they will be able to inoculate up to 2,000 people a day at the Microsoft campus site. He says they’ll start slow, with the hopes of being in full service by mid-February.
Statewide, just over 500,000 total vaccine doses have been administered as of Monday. So far, most vaccines have been given out at health clinics and hospitals.
The best way to ensure you get a vaccine when you are eligible is to sign up for FindYourPhaseWa.org, or to use the Washington State Department of Health’s list and map of eligible providers so you know who to reach out to in your area. The state is also working to establish mass vaccination clinics, starting with four that opened Monday in eastern and southern Washington. The next sites will include Thurston, Kitsap, and Whatcom counties.
The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.
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