Klickitat County COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

February 23, 2021 GNCadm1n Local News Comments Off on Klickitat County COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

KLICKITAT COUNTY REPORTS COVID-19 VACCINE SHIPMENT DELAYS
Klickitat County Health Department awaits a two week supply of vaccine shipmentsGoldendale, WA, 

February 22, 2021 – The Klickitat County Health Department (KCHD) reported today that severe weather across the U.S. has resulted in COVID-19 vaccine shipping delays. Over the last two weeks, more than 800 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been allocated and scheduled to be sent to Klickitat County vaccine providers but did not arrive. This latest delivery of vaccines were “boosters” or second doses that allow people to complete their vaccination series. 

Despite the delays, very few Klickitat County residents have had to reschedule their vaccine appointments. Any residents that have had to reschedule due to vaccine shipment delays have already been contacted. The overall impact of these delays has been minimal greatly because of the ongoing partnership and planning between KCHD, Skyline Health, Klickitat Valley Health, and NorthShore Medical Group. All of these vaccine providers are working expeditiously to deliver vaccines to residents. 

These delivery delays have impacted COVID-19 vaccine clinics at most of the vaccine providers in Klickitat County. The delayed shipments are expected to arrive later this week or early next week. Once delivered, all the vaccine providers will work collaboratively to ensure that all the doses are administered to Klickitat County residents promptly.

Currently, all Klickitat County providers are focusing vaccine efforts on Phase 1a and 1b, tier one. These tiers include: high-risk healthcare workers, first responders, long-term care facility residents, persons 65 years and older, and those 50 years or older in multigenerational households.

You can help slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are in public, washing your hands, and staying home when you are sick. It is also highly recommended that the public avoid large gatherings and events even if they are hosted outside. 

If you are currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please contact your primary care provider about getting tested. COVID-19 symptoms can be different for everyone but generally include some of the following: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches or pains, sore throat, sinus congestion, dry or productive cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, loss of smell or taste, and fatigue. Anyone with symptoms can be tested in Klickitat County by calling to make an appointment at Klickitat Valley Health, Skyline Health, or Northshore Medical Group.

February 22nd, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Vaccine Update

KLICKITAT COUNTY – The Klickitat County Community partners have been working hard to continue vaccine distribution to everyone eligible, per the Washington State Department of Health guidelines. The last data update on February 17th at 11:59 PM on the Department of Health Dashboard shows that Klickitat County has distributed 5,498 vaccinations. The breakdown for those doses results in 15.68% of the county now has a first dose and 4.13% being fully vaccinated. Vaccine shipments are being received each week and the vaccinations are on-going. If you would like to find out more on vaccine eligibility and locations the link is provided below in the resources section.

Currently, the data is showing that it takes one to two weeks after the second vaccine is given to become fully protected. With that information, we ask that all residents please continue to use social distancing, face masks, and limit gatherings to minimize the risk of spreading the virus in our county. We are seeing a trend of relaxation, which is to be expected with the hopes of vaccination protection and things opening back up. However, we need to continue taking health precautions until our county is at a higher vaccination rate to continue our downward trend in positive cases. The vaccine is a valuable tool needed to end this pandemic without having to see a significant majority of our family, friends, and residents struggle through the effects of COVID-19.

Resources-

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