County health officials are exploring ways to get COVID-19 vaccines to those who may not be able to get to the county’s mass vaccination site or to local health care providers.
Saturday, a first dose vaccination clinic was scheduled for the Ocean Shores Convention Center.
“It’s a partnership between us, the IMO and the state Department of Health,” said Grays Harbor Public Health Director Mike McNickle. “They looked to us for some direction, and ours was to go to Westport and Ocean Shores, and start working with the home bound population.”
IMO stands for Incident Management Organization. The state is split into regions — Grays Harbor County is in the West Region, with Lewis, Pacific, and Thurston counties — and the IMO offers “assistance with mass vaccinations” within each region, said public health information officers Maranatha Hay.
“The goal is to reach all of the people of this county and get them vaccinated,” said McNickle. The more people vaccinated, the more likely the county will at least be able to remain in Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan, or “make sure we won’t have to move backward.”
For a county to remain in Phase 3, it must have a rate of newly diagnosed confirmed cases per 100,000 over two weeks of less than 200. As of April 21, Grays Harbor County’s rate was 155.2, up from 113.3 the previous week. The other key metric, number of hospitalizations per 100,000 population over the previous week, must be under five.
During the week of April 15-21, there were 102 cases reported in the county; that’s up significantly from the prior week’s total of 50, and the week prior’s 35. That included a spike of 41 cases in one day; however, numbers have flattened to mostly single-digits since, and McNickle said since the county is dealing with mostly community transmission — where a single time or location of infection cannot be determined — there is no indication of any mass spread event.
There were four new deaths reported this week in the county, bringing the total to 62. There were also three new hospitalizations reported.
Reaching the home bound
The home bound population are those who, “either for a medical condition or disability are not able to get out easily,” said McNickle, like those who are not able to go to an appointment without assistance. He said he was provided a list of about 1,400 individuals in the county who fit into the category. “We’re trying to get those numbers so when the time comes (the IMO) only goes to those where folks haven’t already got the shot, otherwise it’s a waste of effort, and come up with a plan to set up and get whatever numbers can be reached.”
Expanding mass clinics
McNickle said he’s hoping to see more IMO clinics like the one Saturday in Ocean Shores in the east county as well.
“I think what we would do is have the IMO use the (Elma) fairgrounds as part of our plan on how to reach the east county,” he said. “I’m still working with the fairgrounds manager to have the curative kiosk moved out there so people can get a walk-up test. I’d like to get them working at the same time, so you can get a test and vaccination at the same time.”
This is what McNickle would like to see; it took some work with the IMO to get the Ocean Shores site set up, and any future locations, dates and times are still in the works.
The “curative kiosk” McNickle mentioned is a location where participants can drive up, and collect and submit their own sample. There is one currently at the public health building in Aberdeen at 2109 Sumner Ave. Results are usually available within about 48 hours. To sign up for this test, go to curative.com, click “book now,” enter your location and fill out the reservation form.
Vaccine demand down
The demand for vaccinations at the mass vaccination site has declined since eligibility opened up to everyone 16 and older. The April 22 and 23 clinics were set up for 750 total appointments — there were 300 appointments scheduled for Thursday; with no-shows, 278 first doses were administered. Friday’s clinic had 307 appointments scheduled, according to Hay.
There is another first dose Pfizer clinic scheduled for Friday, April 30, with 500 available doses, said Hay. Appointments are available between 9 a.m. and noon and can be scheduled at healthygh.org/covid19-vaccine-appointment.
“We’re getting to a tipping point to where those who really really really wanted vaccinations got them and those who really really really didn’t still aren’t,” said McNickle. “We continue to make the case that COVID isn’t over. When we get to herd immunity, 70-75% immunized, and then we can declare victory.”
The most recent available numbers show nearly 48,000 total vaccine doses have been delivered in the county; more than 35% of the county has had at least one shot, and just under 27% is considered fully vaccinated.
Numerous factors could be playing into the drop in demand for vaccinations.
“The issue with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine really set us back,” said McNickle, who figures the recall of 15 million doses after a handful of women under the age of 50 suffered serious blood clots gave more concrete reason to not get vaccinated to those who were already hesitant to get the shot. “That was really bad timing because we really wanted to use the Johnson and Johnson in our clinics because it’s a one-shot deal.” If you’re out in Westport or east county, that would mean one dose and no need to travel for a second booster like is needed with other vaccines.
The improving weather, and the county being in Phase 3, could also be leading to the drop in demand, said McNickle. And the demand expected when the doors opened to include everyone 16 and older hasn’t come true.
“I remember being 16, and I was not one to jump into line to get a shot or anything else,” said McNickle, “so unless parents feel strongly about them getting the vaccination not a lot of them are running in.”
Getting vaccination numbers up could be the key to reopening the county, the state, and the nation.
“It’s not just about our community, all of America, all the world, the more we have jabbed in the arm the quicker we get it under control and reduce the number of variants,” said McNickle. “The goal is to get as many people vaccinated as possible.”
There are numerous locations within the county that offer vaccinations with open appointments. Find them on the state’s vaccine locator website, vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/. IMO defined
There are a lot of individuals working within each IMO, which acts as a “liaison between the state Department of Health helping to facilitate funding and support for mass vaccination throughout the counties,” said Hay. ”The West Region IMO is made up of members who work for local fire departments, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service, and some members who have training but are retired.” Each region has a command staff with multiple levels, from a region commander to a financial officer.
