Seattle’s Lumen Field vaccine site to host largest civilian-run clinic in the nation

The Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle will open as a mass vaccination site on Saturday, March 13.

Three vaccination sites to open in King County as dose supply expected to increase

At peak capacity, the Lumen Field site will be the largest civilian-run clinic of its kind in the country. Initially, due to a limited supply of doses, the site will be open two to three days a week and will vaccinate roughly 5,000 people weekly. However, at full supply, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the site is capable of vaccinating 20,000 people per day.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mayor Durkan noted that it’s hard to believe they’re standing in the same building where there were once auto shows, concerts, and art fairs. Last year, at the start of the pandemic, the space was set up to be a field hospital, which, thankfully, was not needed.

“A little less than a year ago, we were in this space as we were setting up a field hospital, as we faced this virus in the earliest days with fear and trepidation, uncertainty, not knowing what was coming, not knowing how we’d get through this,” she said.

Now, thanks to a partnership with Swedish Medical Centers, which will provide supplies and clinical support for the Lumen Field site, and First & Goal Hospitality providing the physical space, Durkan says there’s hope on the horizon.

“While vaccinations are the greatest hope right now on the horizon, please remember we’re not through it yet,” she said.

Durkan added that everyone needs to keep wearing masks and social distancing, while encouraging those who are eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Together, we’ll make it through this,” she said. “We will come back better and stronger and more equitable.”

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In addition to the Lumen Field site, Seattle has been running a mobile vaccination program with the fire department, and hosted a number of pop-up clinics. There are also two permanent vaccination sites in Rainier Beach and West Seattle, launched earlier this month. This week alone, Durkan says there have been 5,000 vaccinations in those community hubs.

While community organizations have started reaching out to help register members of BIPOC community, older adults, immigrants and refugees for vaccine appointments at Lumen Field Event Center, it is a site that will be open to everyone. Additionally, to help bridge the digital divide, appointments can also be arranged by phone.

“We are going to vaccinate Washingtonians like crazy at Lumen Field,” Gov. Inslee said. “The Sounders, the Seahawks understand momentum. I’m pleased to tell you Washington state has momentum, big time, in the fight against COVID.”

Inslee highlighted the fact that Washington state crossed two million vaccine doses given this week. He says the federal government is helping with state’s already increasing productivity, as more doses are expected in the coming weeks and months.

“If you give us the doses, Mr. President, we’ll give you the vaccinations,” Inslee said.

Learn more about COVID vaccinations in Seattle and register for an appointment online here.

Watch the full event announcing the opening of the mass vaccination site here.