COVID-19 vaccination sites monitor, adjust to snow forecast

This week’s two drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination events at the Tacoma Dome weren’t supposed to start until Thursday but Pierce County Emergency Management said they were moved up a day and began Wednesday because of the threat of incoming winter weather.

“It happened in a matter of hours,” said Pierce County Emergency Management spokesperson Mike Halliday.

Halliday said the shift in plans did not impact demand with all appointments filling up in 15 minutes Wednesday morning. Pierce County tweeted Wednesday night that 880 people had been vaccinated that day at the Tacoma Dome. The second vaccination pop-up is scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday.

“Starting Thursday’s a little earlier and ending it a little earlier than we normally would,” said Halliday. “So we can get people in here and get them vaccinated and then out and home and so staff and volunteers can get home too.”

King County announced it’s moving Thursday, Friday and Saturday (February 11-13) COVID-19 vaccination appointments from its Auburn drive-thru site to Kent’s accesso ShoWare Center because of cold weather.

“To protect people from waiting in cars in below freezing temperatures and possible snow, and to protect staff working outdoors, all vaccinations will be indoors at the Kent Vaccination site (by appointment only),” said King County. COVID-19 testing at the Auburn site will remain open.

Jeff Boyd, who’s been working to help find seniors vaccine appointments through social media, said there was uncertainty heading into the weekend for one woman he helped find a spot.

“Now our fear is hopefully the weather holds up,” said Boyd.

As of Wednesday night, Snohomish County said there were no plans to close the county’s mass vaccination sites but that decision may change. Their vaccine taskforce is updating contingency plans and said if closures are needed, that information would be sent out by 7 a.m. by web, social media and a call center.

All five of Snohomish County’s community-based COVID-19 testing sites will close Thursday through Sunday. People are encouraged to wait until next week to get COVID-19 tests through these sites or schedule tests through healthcare providers.

Cox Media Group