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You are receiving this message because you subscribed for COVID-19 updates from the Kitsap Public Health District. Find more local vaccine information at kcowa.us/vaccine
Kitsap Public Health urgently asking healthcare providers to enroll to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccine
We need as many providers as possible to enroll now so our healthcare community is prepared to quickly and safely provide vaccinations as vaccine supplies increase.
Kitsap Public Health District is asking all Kitsap County healthcare organizations to enroll with the state to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
At this time, there is no federal or state-funded governmental program to support local, government-run mass vaccination events. Vaccine supplies are not being channeled through local health departments. Vaccine is shipped directly from the manufacturers to enrolled vaccine providers, as directed by the state Department of Health.
Timely COVID-19 vaccinations will need to occur through a private-public partnership. Our local healthcare providers are critical to this effort. Healthcare providers can only receive vaccine if they have enrolled and been approved by the state Department of Health. Only a small number of healthcare providers in Kitsap have completed this process to date.
"I am calling on every member of our healthcare community to rise to this historic challenge," Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Gib Morrow said. "We need providers to enroll to receive vaccine as soon as possible and commit to administering vaccinations, so we can save lives and begin to put this pandemic behind us."
Fewer than 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed this week to enrolled healthcare providers in our county. The supply of vaccine will increase but remain limited for the foreseeable future. Based on state and federal guidance, vaccination is prioritized for high-risk workers in healthcare settings, emergency medical responders, and staff and residents of long-term care facilities.
Supplies of vaccine are expected to grow in coming months. Kitsap Public Health is helping our healthcare community prepare to make vaccination widely and easily available to Kitsap residents as supplies increase and more groups become eligible for vaccination. A network of healthcare providers partnering with local government is needed to make vaccination of our community thorough and efficient.
Even with every Kitsap healthcare organization participating, it will take many months to provide vaccinations to the majority of Kitsap’s 271,000 residents.
"We have an enormous and complex task ahead, and it will take all of us working together to get it done," Dr. Morrow said.
Providers can find more enrollment information at covidvaccinewa.org
KEY COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES
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The first shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Washington state on Monday. Find information about Washington's vaccine allocation plans at covidvaccinewa.org. Visit the CDC's website for information about COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccine approval process.
- The state Department of Health reported 1,950 doses of Pfizer vaccine were allocated to healthcare providers in Kitsap County this week.
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Vaccine has been delivered to a small number of health organizations in Kitsap County. These providers will begin administering vaccinations to their staff and others in the community identified as being high-priority groups under Phase 1a guidance (read more below).
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The supply of vaccine in Kitsap County is extremely limited at this time. For context, we estimate there are at least 7,000 people in Kitsap County eligible for vaccination under Phase 1a, compared with fewer than 2,000 doses delivered to providers in our county this week. Vaccine supplies will remain limited for the foreseeable future.
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We are asking community members to be patient and understanding as we work through these critical first stages of vaccine rollout.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Supplies of vaccine are very limited at this time and not everyone can be vaccinated immediately. Vaccination is being prioritized based on federal and state guidance.
The first phase of vaccination — called "phase 1a" — starts this week. This phase will focus on high-risk priority groups, including:
- High-risk workers in health care settings
- High-risk first responders
- Staff and residents of long-term care facilities
Find detailed information about Phase 1a priority groups here.
Supplies of vaccine will increase in coming months and vaccination will be offered to additional priority groups. Eventually, vaccination will be available to everyone.
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FIND MORE COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION
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Questions?
- For general questions about the COVID-19 vaccine,call the state COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127 or email covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov
- If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccination in Kitsap County, email covidvaccine@kitsappublichealth.org. Be aware that we are experiencing a high volume of inquiries and will respond as soon as we are able.
MEDIA CONTACT: pio@kitsappublichealth.org
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