OLYMPIA – Severe winter weather in other parts of the country is leading to big delays in COVID-19 vaccine shipments to the state and local health care providers and clinics.
The numbers tell the story that Lewis County Health and Social Services has been sharing for weeks now, that local clinics and pharmacies are constrained by the amount of vaccine being delivered here. The State Health Department reported Thursday that an estimated 90-percent of the 206-thousand doses expected from the federal government this week are delayed.
Moderna vaccines still haven’t been shipped out for this week. A limited number were shipped by Pfizer on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Four Providence vaccination events scheduled between today and Sunday, including a second-dose event at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds have been cancelled. The delay in vaccine arrival here caused Providence Central Hospital to email Thursday that every person who has an appointment will be rescheduled.
More pharmacies are being brought into the state delivery system, so check yours to see if appointments are available. The delay in shipments has caused many providers to re-schedule appointments.
Not everyone has had access to a vaccine, causing many county health departments to ask the state to change the way they decide who’s eligible next.
State Epidemiologist, Dr. Scott Lindquist says the release of a vaccine from Johnson & Johnson is promising for those that have not been able to be vaccinated. An innovative mobile vaccine program will be rolled out in Lewis County next week.
_______________________________________________________ OLYMPIA – Scientists say Mt. Rainier remains at normal, background levels of volcanic activity, after The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network reports nearly 20 earthquakes in the past two days. The first “swarm” occurring over a five hour period beginning Wednesday afternoon. A single quake recorded yesterday. The most temblors were pinpointed as happening near the southwest side of the summit at about one half mile depth and no stronger than a 2.5 magnitude.
