Clallam, Jefferson counties start mass vaccinations; holdups for larger counties

The first counties in Washington state are starting to vaccinate Group 1-B1 — people who are 70 years and older — and are launching mass vaccination sites.

Port Angeles held its first mass vaccination site at Port Angeles High School this weekend and vaccinated about 1,000 seniors in Clallam County.

Jefferson County is only having seniors 85 and older make appointments because of limited vaccine supply.

Health experts are hopeful that President-elect Joe Biden’s massive $1.9 trillion relief package — which includes a vaccine distribution plan — will help speed things up.

Photos show Polly and Mike McKenna getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Sequim at the second mass vaccination event hosted by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Mike and Rosalind Reichner got their shots in Sequim on Saturday too.

“We feel so grateful, wowee!” Mike Reichner said.

“We’re very happy. We’re relieved! We feel like we’re halfway towards something positive,” Rosalind Reichner said.

Rosalind Reichner said while her arm was sore —that was her only side effect. Mike Reichner said he felt no side effects at all.

The Reichners run the Purple Haze Organic Lavender Farm and are used to early hours. But Rosalind Reichner woke up at 2 a.m. Saturday and was in line by 2:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. clinic. She decided to get there extra early after seeing the massive lines at the first clinic on Thursday.

“I thought if I showed up at 2, 3 o’clock in the morning, no one is going to be there! I’ll be the first person in line and, of course, that wasn’t the case,” Rosalind Reichner said. She said there were about 150 people in front of her.

But the Reichners said they didn’t mind the wait.

“It’s way beyond grateful — how we feel,” Mike Reichner said.

“They were very organized. They had emergency teams there, ambulances there in case someone had a bad reaction. We didn’t see any problems with anybody at all,” Rosalind Reichner said.

“We can’t stress enough — the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe really stepped up,” Mike Reichner said.

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe opened vaccinations to people over 50 and those who live in a household with someone older than 70.

“If they’re 65 years old, we’re not going to tell that person to come back. Because think about it — if they have to come back another time, I now have to have two different ways to vaccinate one group of people,” Simcosky said. He pointed out that both people would have to come back for their separate shots at different times.

But many health jurisdictions in Washington state said having enough of the vaccine is a major concern.

Pierce County is waiting for more vaccines to launch its mass clinics. It plans to have three mass vaccination sites.

“We really want to gear up for when more phases start to be rolled up. So I’m hoping it comes, and the vaccines arrive in more of a flood than a trickle,” said Jody Ferguson, the Pierce County Emergency Management director.

King County stated it doesn’t even have enough right now to vaccinate all health care workers and long-term care facility residents. It eventually plans to have 10 mass vaccination sites.

Even the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe stated supply is an issue.

“One thing we’re concerned about — we keep telling people, please, at the federal level — vaccine production is the most important thing,” Simcosky said.

Biden said he plans to use the Defense Production Act in a way that could ramp up vaccine supply rather than just supplies like syringes and personal protective equipment.

Biden also said his administration plans to set up “thousands” of federal vaccination sites.

Cox Media Group