COVID-19 Vashon Situation Report
The Vashon Emergency Operations Center produces this briefing for our emergency workers and for the community. The situation report is published Tuesday and Friday and includes information on Vashon community response actions and support.
Spanish translations of each Situation Report are available.
La traducción del SitRep o Reporte de la Situación en la isla, está disponible en español. Pare recibir una copia por correo, pídala a:
laguilarkir@gmail.com===================================================
Vashon Vaccine Availability:
● The Overview: Both vaccination locations on the island, Sea Mar clinic and Vashon Pharmacy, have been reporting good vaccine supplies. They are easily meeting the declining demand as Vashon inches closer to a 90% first dose vaccination level and has crested over 70% completed vaccination rate.
● Get Your Second Dose: Vashon shows a 17-point gap between first-dose and second-dose completion of vaccinations, which is a slight improvement from a week ago. It’s crucial to complete your vaccination series and it’s easy to do. Second-dose vaccinations are available with no appointment, even for people who got their first dose at an off-island provider. Information on getting your full vaccination protection is provided below, in the paragraphs for Sea Mar and Pharmacy operating hours. Just be sure to bring your first-dose vaccination card, so the vaccinators can be sure about your type of vaccine and the spacing between first and second doses. Anyone who got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine has completed their vaccination, since that’s a one-dose vaccine.
● School Vaccinations: Vashon Pharmacy, Medical Reserve Corps, and EOC volunteers will return to both Vashon High School (VHS) and McMurray Middle School on Monday, June 7, and Thursday, June 10, to administer second doses of COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccinations will take place from 8:45am to 10:30am at VHS for high school students, and from 11:45am to 1:30pm at McMurray for middle school students. Students who received their first dose on Monday, May 17, should return for their second dose on Monday June 7, and students who received their first dose on Thursday, May 20, should return on Thursday, June 10. Students who need a first dose or who are unable to participate in the school clinics will need to make arrangements to receive a vaccination elsewhere. On-island options are Vashon Pharmacy or Sea Mar Clinic (see details below).
● Pop Ups Discontinued: The vaccination level has reached a point on Vashon that only one or two people have been showing up at the offered pop-up vaccination events. The event scheduled for today at Thriftway was cancelled.
● Sea Mar Clinic Vaccinations: You have two choices at Sea Mar for getting your vaccination. You can make an appointment by calling the Sunrise Ridge clinic at (206) 463-3671. Or, you can drop in without an appointment on most weekdays. It’s a good idea to check availability on the Sea Mar website before dropping by, in order to find out what vaccine is on offer, and to make sure they’ll be operating: SeaMar.org/COVID-Vaccine. A Spanish-language interpreter is available for early visits on Wednesdays only, beginning at 7:30am.
● Vashon Pharmacy Vaccinations: You have two choices to get vaccinated at Vashon Pharmacy. You can make an appointment online at VashonPharmacy.com/COVID. Or, you can just drop in without an appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Please go to the rear of the Pharmacy where the white vaccination tents are set up — you’ll be able to get your shot there, or you’ll see a sign directing you inside the Pharmacy. A Spanish-language interpreter is on site during most hours of operation.
● Vaccination Free to All: All COVID-19 vaccinations are free to all. If you have insurance, you’ll be asked for your information so providers can recover the cost of administering the free vaccine, but there’s no co-pay. If you do not have insurance, the cost is covered anyway and you will not be charged. 10 Current Virus Statistics: Vashon Island COVID-19 Case Count as of 6/4/21:*
● 121 confirmed positive cases, 4 people have been hospitalized, 3 deaths
● Since the last report, Vashon has had 0 new cases
● 8,469 (88.5%) 12+ year-old residents have received one vaccine dose, and 71.5% received 2 doses King County COVID-19 Case Count as of 6/4/21:*
● 105,513 confirmed positive cases, 298 new since last Situation Report
● 1,599 deaths, 7 new since last Situation Report
● 1,460,642 (74.7%) 12+ year-old residents have received one vaccine dose, and 63.7% received 2 doses Washington State COVID-19 Case Count as of 6/3/21 (vaccinations data as of 6/2/21):*
● 439,263 confirmed positive cases, 2,279 new since last Situation Report
● 5,836 deaths, 47 since last Situation Report
● 7,133,121 (63.1%) 16+ year-old residents have received one vaccine dose, and 54.7% received 2 doses *Note 1: The statistics above are from the Public Health – Seattle & King County dashboard as of the date listed. Numbers may not be complete, as data processing lags and the actual number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths may not yet match the dashboard. Note 2: The federal HIPAA Act prohibits Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) from releasing the names of patients. For consistency of day-to-day data reporting for Vashon, the EOC uses only the ZIP code data from the Public Health – Seattle & King County dashboard. Health Tips:
● Washington State Department of Health has posted the last of 4 parts of their informational series “COVID-19 Vaccines: Just the Facts!” – part of the ongoing DOH effort to dispel rumors and provide factual information. In part 4, they review questions on vaccine safety. Be fully informed and get the facts.
● For more questions and answers, visit part 1 at: https://medium.com/wadepthealth/covid-19- vaccines-just-the-facts-92f9a2d80024.
● See part 2 at: https://medium.com/wadepthealth/covid-19-vaccines-just-the-facts-part-2- 56d895d13904.
● See part 3 at: https://medium.com/wadepthealth/covid-19-vaccines-just-the-facts-part-3- 5511e86cebd6. As always, you should speak with your healthcare provider if you have other questions or concerns about the vaccines. They can help you decide what is best for you and your health.
● Local help with questions about vaccination is offered by Vashon’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). If you have questions, please call (844) 469-4554 and select option 4. That will connect you to one of the Medical Reserve Corps doctors who can respond with information. (Note: You can’t make a vaccination appointment at that number. For an appointment, follow the directions in the Sea Mar and Pharmacy sections above.)
● The Washington Department of Health’s (DOH) ask a doctor blog looks at child vaccinations. Dr. Elias Kass, a Seattle-based naturopathic pediatric primary care provider, discusses the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children. https://medium.com/wadepthealth/should-ivaccinate-my-kid-we-ask-a-doctor-28673fc6820c
● How Misinformation Leads to Vaccine Hesitancy, a DOH conversation with Dr. John Vassall, Physician Executive for Quality, at Comagine Health. This Q & A exchange addresses misinformation 10 from the medical point of view. https://medium.com/wadepthealth/how-misinformation-leads-tovaccine-hesitancy-31ea60273ba5
New Developments since Last Report:
● Gov. Jay Inslee this week announced a suite of new incentives to help encourage unvaccinated Washingtonians to get the COVID shot. The incentives are meant to help the state meet the 70% vaccination goal by the end of June. On Vashon, we have already surpassed the state and county targets, and lead King County with 70.5% of 12 and older residents fully vaccinated. The incentive program will be administered by the Washington State Lottery, with prize drawings for the next four Tuesdays. Previously vaccinated residents are automatically enrolled in the lottery. The incentives will include:
● Lottery cash drawings, with prizes totaling $2 million
● Higher education tuition and expense assistance
● Sports tickets and gear
● Gift cards
● Airline tickets
● Game systems and smart speakers https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-vaccination-incentives-3a3fc36a0c27 (6/4/21)
● Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued updated general workplace guidance. The updated COVID-19 workplace safety and health guidance will help employers adapt masking policies to meet new CDC guidelines adopted by Governor Inslee. Washington State’s updated rules specify that fully vaccinated employees of most industries throughout the state, including fully vaccinated agricultural workers, no longer need to wear masks or maintain strict social distancing in the workplace, transportation, and housing. For specific updates for fully vaccinated persons (including restaurants, religious gatherings, outdoor recreation and more) visit the State reopening page at https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-reopening-guidance (6/4/21)
● The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged parents to vaccinate their teens to protect them from COVID-19, because it can cause severe illness even among young people. Director Rochelle Walensky cited a new study that showed increased hospitalization rates of teenagers with COVID-19 in March and April. Severe COVID-19 disease that requires hospitalization has been shown to occur in all age groups. Covid-19 hospitalization rates among adolescents declined in January and February 2021, the report said, but increased during March and April. “I am deeply concerned by the numbers of hospitalized adolescents, and saddened to see the numbers of adolescents who required treatment in intensive care units or mechanical ventilation,” Walensky said. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7023e1.htm (6/4/21)
● Incidence of domestic violence has seen a substantial rise in King County during COVID-19. The pandemic has escalated the risk of violence for survivors through more time spent at home, increased levels of household stress, and compromised access to advocacy and direct support systems. Everyone has a role to play in disrupting cycles of domestic violence in our communities. Supporting domestic violence survivors without judgment can reduce feelings of isolation and help them take steps towards safety. Support survivors by believing them and maintaining contact. If you know someone in crisis who has access to a firearm, talk to them about safe storage and the option of filing for an Extreme Risk Protection Order. https://publichealthinsider.com/2021/06/02/supportingsurvivors-of-domestic-violence-during-covid-19/ (6/4/21)
● COVID-19 Resources and Impacts webinar offered by Washington State Department of Health. This free, one-hour webinar for all businesses takes place on June 23. It will provide an overview of some of the state responses, resources, and other impacts affecting small businesses, and will include brief presentations from several state agency small business liaisons, with dedicated time for Q&A. Register for the webinar at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/small-business-requirements-and-resourcessbrr-covid-19-impact-webinar-tickets-133412011919 for English or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taller- 10 de-requerimientos-y-recursos-para-negocios-pequenos-seminario-web-registration-135888120025 for Spanish. (6/4/21)
Progress on Community Support Operations:
● Emergency Operations Center (EOC): Vashon’s pandemic emergency response was activated 450 days ago (14 months and three weeks). Our current operational priorities are health, food security, housing security, and economic recovery, as established by the Incident Commander, Fire Chief Charlie Krimmert, and approved by the VashonBePrepared Board.
● EOC/VashonBePrepared: The activated units are beginning to set end dates for their work, and starting the process of shifting to a monitoring/standby level. So far, things look good for downshifting by the end of this month. That depends on a number of factors: a continued downward trend in the disease rate, ongoing improvement in the vaccination rate, and conditions in the surrounding region where vaccination and case rates are not as favorable as here on the island. Given the declining demand for testing, the testing operation could be wound down as soon as the week of June 25th, although the contact tracing team will continue on standby as needed. Information on how to access other testing resources will be shared with the community, well before the testing site shuts down.
● EOC: The EOC Team and the other activated teams held the first monthly drill night this week. It was the first drill night since February last year. The meeting focused on applying lessons from this pandemic activation. A number of themes have begun emerging that will be invaluable opportunities for improvement. These objectives will be folded into the Cascadia Rising 2022 fullscale exercise that is slated for next June. Focus areas include volunteer management, integrating multi-discipline task forces using the principles of the Incident Command System, financial management during an emergency, and several more.
● MRC/Community: The Vashon Medical Reserve Corps continues to offer COVID-19 safety consultations to community groups and businesses. In the last few weeks, consultations have been provided for a dance troupe that will visit VCA in July, the VCA Garden Tour, Open Space for Arts and Community, Vashon Community Care, and Camp Sealth.
● MRC/EOC: Mobile teams will be going to the School District next week to continue providing second-dose vaccinations, in order to complete vaccination of 12 and older students before school lets out, so they will be protected in time for a busy summer of activities. Details are available in the Vaccination Availability section.
