MYNORTHWEST OPINION

The Rundown: Who gets the vaccine first?

Oct 22, 2020, 10:12 PM | Updated: Oct 23, 2020, 5:47 am

Today’s topic: the coronavirus vaccine. When it comes out, who should get it first?

The state Department of Health released an early draft of their plan. Reporter Hanna Scott went through some of the details with KIRO Radio hosts.

“It’s expected it’ll be limited when it is available,” Scott said. “No more than 500,000 doses, I believe, for our state is the expectation in the initial round.”

For Dave Ross of Seattle’s Morning News, the whole thing seems more complicated than it needs to be.

“Why would it be any different than the flu vaccine?” Ross asked. “A month ago I walked in, got my flu vaccine, it took 10 minutes and it was over with.”

The simple answer, Hanna Scott explained, is the limited availability at the beginning.

“Tom, you’ll be in line, you’ll be first in line,” John Curley suggested.

“Actually I’d rather my mother be first in line,” Tom replied.

Jack Stine suggested we’re already ready to reopen schools, with or without a vaccine.

“Critics of Jack Stine say to me ‘think of the teachers,'” Stine said. “To which I say, wait a minute. Let’s say a group of teachers is at risk. Why can’t they Zoom in? Why does it have to be one way or the other?”

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin made plans to start making sacrifices moving into the winter.

“I don’t want us to get back to the very beginning,” Reutin said. “That’s not good for our mental health. That’s not good for business. I’m not going to tell other people what they can do, I’m just going to look at myself.”

MyNorthwest Opinion

king county sheriff's office incident sea airport...

Charlie Harger

WA bill that could remove elected sheriffs clears House on party-line vote

A bill that would give a state board the power to remove an elected sheriff from office cleared the Washington House early Friday morning.

5 months ago

Iran war US embassy Saudi Arabia...

JON GAMBRELL, ELENA BECATOROS, AND SAMY MAGDY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Iran strikes the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as war expands yet again

Iran expanded its targets Tuesday, striking the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Washington began to pull many staff out of the Middle East.

5 months ago

katie wilson seattle mayor transit tax open air drug market...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson names leaders for Human Services, Education, and Transportation

Seattle Mayor-elect Katie Wilson continues to establish her leadership team moments before her tenure kicks off Jan. 1.

7 months ago

anglerfish dating seattle...

Isaiah Williams

What the male deep-sea anglerfish taught me about dating in Seattle

Discover how the deep-sea anglerfish inspired my dating journey in Seattle after moving from Mountlake Terrace.

7 months ago

same-sex marriage supreme court...

Associated Press

Supreme Court upholds its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

9 months ago

Little Saigon (Photo: Tonya Woo)...

Tonya Woo, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO MYNORTHWEST

Tonya Woo: It’s time for Seattle to invest in Little Saigon’s future

Former Seattle City Councilmember Tonya Woo is on a mission to revitalize Little Saigon.

1 year ago

The Rundown: Who gets the vaccine first?