COVID Vaccine Info
| NOTE: ALL VACCINE APPOINTMENTS ON ALL ISLANDS ARE FULL AT THIS TIME. THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE RELEASED ON FRIDAY JAN 29th at 5PM. PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES WITH VACCINE AVAILABILITY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO DEMAND, BOOKING RESERVATIONS WILL BE LIKE BOOKING A FERRY RESERVATION FOR JULY 3rd WHEN RESERVATIONS OPEN. SOME WILL GET IN, MANY WILL NOT, AND SOME WILL THINK THEY'RE IN, BUT FIND OUT THEY'RE NOT. BE PATIENT ISLANDERS, WE'RE WORKING TO GET THE ISLANDS VACCINATED. THANK YOU! |
| At this time, vaccine eligibility is limited to individuals in the Phase 1a or Phase 1b Tier 1 groups. This includes healthcare workers, first responders, those over 65, and those over 50 and caring for a grandchild or elder. Full details are available here. |
TO OBTAIN the COVID VACCINE:
| STEP 1 FIND YOUR PHASE To confirm your eligibility, go to the WA DOH Find Your Phase Tool at: http://www.findyourphasewa.org/ and complete the survey. If you are eligible for the vaccine, take a photo or screenshot of the final screen that confirms your eligibility. Click here for an example of the approval page. NOTE: Completing this survey does not schedule you for a vaccine or add you to a waiting list. | STEP 2 IF ELIGIBLE, SCHEDULE VACCINE Use the following links to schedule online: If you do schedule an appointment, you will also be booked for an appointment at the same time exactly 28 days later. Please note: given limited supply, there may not be any appointments available. The date and time that the next block of appointments will open is listed above. | STEP 3 RECORD YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME Carefully track the day, time, and location of your appointment. Missed appointments will not be rescheduled. Bring to your appointment: -A photo ID -A screenshot or photo of your Find Your Phase certificate from Step 1. Please watch this short informational video before your appointment. |
KEY POINTS:
-PLEASE READ THIS LATEST Q&A WITH DETAILS ON THE VACCINE REGISTRATION AND DELIVERY PROCESS.
-For additional and more detailed information, please review this Q&A Document and this recent Hot Topic FAQ.
-Local healthcare providers and pharmacies will be offering the vaccine, though their timing for doing so will vary. The process outlined above is only for vaccine delivered by San Juan County Health & Community Services. Other providers will update the community and their patients directly as they come online, and info on how to access their services should be available at this link.
-We know that this process if frustrating. The vast majority of islanders wanting to make an appointment are unable to do. Until supplies increase and additional providers begin delivery of vaccine, vaccine appointments will be very limited. There is no waiting list, and please do not contact San Juan County Health and Community Services for vaccine supply and delivery related questions. Messages and emails are not being returned at this time.
-San Juan County Health & Community Services is not scheduling second doses for individuals who have received their first doses via other locations or in other jurisdictions.
Useful links and resources:
CDC Vaccine Information Page
WA DOH Vaccine Information Page
What we know about the COVID Vaccine:
-San Juan County Health & Community Services understands there is tremendous demand for the vaccine. Please know that though every effort will be made to distribute vaccine rapidly and equitably, patience and empathy will get us through this. Timing and volume of supply, and eligibility requirements are all outside of San Juan County control. The Health & Community Services team will continue to advocate on the islands’ behalf and plan for a robust and rapid distribution as soon as doses arrive.
-Managing of our collective expectations is critical. Administration of vaccine will not be instantaneous. There will be shortfalls and delays in vaccine delivery to the islands. It will be many months until the supply necessary to vaccinate all island residents will be available. Even those individuals who are especially vulnerable to the disease may need to wait some time until immunizations are possible.
-Current WA DOH estimates are that there will be enough vaccine in WA by early February to vaccinate approximately 7% of WA residents. The details of this forecast will change with time, but it is a useful number to help set expectations.
-So far, all vaccines require two doses spread 21-28 days apart. Full protection is not achieved until fourteen days after the second dose, as the body needs time to develop maximum protection against the virus.
-It is important to understand that though the Moderna vaccine is thought to be 94% effective (average flu vaccine is 40- 60% effective), this means that 1 in 20 who receive the COVID vaccine are not protected.
-As vaccine delivery ramps up, the islands need to maintain existing safety practices. Masking. Hygiene. Avoiding travel. Eliminating indoor social contacts. Ensuring that those who engage in higher-risk activities quarantine after doing so. Until the disease is truly under control, the risk of transmission remains, even from those who have been vaccinated. See this FAQ for more details.