Dr. Jeff Duchin reflects on the pandemic–marking one year since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in our community. “We have many reasons to be encouraged as a community. Although this has been a dreadful year in many ways, King County and our region has, until this point, weathered this storm relatively well compared to most of the rest of the country.”
Over the past year, many of us have encountered milestones we never expected to experience: a first holiday season alone; an entire school semester online; nearly a year without hugging friends or family. This week marks another sad COVID-19 milestone – the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed death from COVID-19 in the U.S., which happened here in King County.
Over the past year, we have learned that COVID-19 spreads easily within households, possibly making our homes one of the riskiest places. You can even spread the virus without having any symptoms. Now that more contagious variants have been detected in the United States, including one in Washington state, this may be even more true.
Public Health has received enough vaccine doses from the state to begin operating the two sites at 500 doses per day, six days a week. These sites will position King County to be able to quickly scale up vaccination efforts and serve the broader community when more vaccine becomes available.
All older adults in Washington state over the age of 65 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. People 50 and older who live in multigenerational households are also eligible if they meet certain conditions. Due to limited supply of vaccine, not everyone will be able to access a vaccine right away. Access will improve as the supply chain widens and providers in King County receive more doses. Learn how to get vaccinated in King County and read more about the expanded vaccination eligibility.