Seattle to open COVID vaccination hub downtown, relaunch mobile teams
Oct 11, 2021, 3:27 PM
(Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
For remaining unvaccinated individuals, kids ages 5-11 once they become eligible, and for individuals who are eligible for booster doses, the City of Seattle is planning to launch mobile vaccination teams as well as a downtown vaccination hub.
Seattle has now administered 1 million COVID tests at citywide locations
The high-capacity vaccination hub in downtown Seattle is expected to open later in October at the Amazon Meeting Center. There will also be one to two Seattle Fire Department mobile vaccination teams. The two efforts, according to an announcement from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Monday, will be able to provide approximately 10,000 vaccinations per week with surge capacity if needed.
The vaccination efforts announced Monday will offer first, second, and booster doses, and will offer a combination of Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer. Proof of insurance and identification are not required. Proof of vaccination is recommended for those receiving second or booster doses.
“Seattle was the first region in the county to feel the devastating effects of the COVID-19 virus, and we innovated and brought nation-leading testing and vaccination sites to our residents,” Durkan said in a news release. “This fall and winter, we’re again launching citywide hubs and mobile teams to ensure Seattle kids, families, and workers have easy access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.”
The hub at Amazon is able to launch through a partnership between the city, Amazon, Swedish, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. It will open Oct. 23, and will operate most Saturdays and Sundays.
The mobile teams will resume operating in mid-October in partnership with community-based organizations and small businesses, focusing their efforts first on remaining unvaccinated people.
“The fire department looks forward to relaunching our Mobile Vaccination Team program in the fall to help provide vaccinations to those who are not yet vaccinated and to administer booster shots,” said Fire Chief Harold Scoggins in a written release. “By partnering with small businesses and community-based organizations, and travelling to where people naturally gather, our deployment model has proven to be a successful way for allowing more convenient access to the vaccine.”
Health officer says King County’s COVID vaccination policy is ‘based on risk’
For hours of operation and which vaccines are offered, visit the city’s website here. Patients can also register for an appointment at any city site on that same page, which is recommended but not required.
A vaccine for kids ages 5-11 has not yet been approved, but COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone age 12 and older. The state’s Vaccine Locator tool will help you find a vaccination location near you.