MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Gov. Inslee says two blessings of 2021 holiday season are boosters, masks

Dec 24, 2021, 6:21 AM

Inslee, holiday video...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee. (Screengrab from video courtesy of Office of the Governor)

(Screengrab from video courtesy of Office of the Governor)

After a 2020 holiday video from Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee that pleaded with Washingtonians to refrain from gathering for the holidays as COVID-19 cases continued to climb, 2021’s video message takes a different tone.

“We have the additional stress of the omicron variant,” Trudi Inslee acknowledges, but quickly adds that “we have ways to deal with that.”

“We hope that you will take some special precautions,” she said.

“The good news is we know we can do things to protect ourselves,” Gov. Inslee said. “Thousands of Washingtonians have already got their booster shot. We know that a booster is the optimum protection we can provide for ourselves.”

The governor also said the state is working to increase capacity and further expand access to COVID booster shots by opening up a mass vaccination site and building up existing clinics.

State recognizes difficulty finding booster shots, assures there is ‘plenty of supply’

“We know masks are available too, and that’s very important. Masks are important even if we do have our booster,” he said. “So we have many blessings this season, but two of them are getting the booster and wearing a mask. It’s a good season.”

Watch the full holiday video, recorded at the governor’s home, below:

Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster appointment near you using the state’s Vaccine Locator tool.

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Gov. Inslee says two blessings of 2021 holiday season are boosters, masks