Even though the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive on the North Olympic Peninsula before the end of the year, it will likely be spring before most members of the public can be vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus, according to local health officers.
Dr. Allison Unthank, Clallam County health officer, said at her weekly COVID-19 presentation Friday that “there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” for area residents, but she urged that they continue maintaining safety measures such as wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings and socially distancing.
“It will not be long before we have a vaccine available,” Unthank said.
(Graphic by Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Twenty-seven new cases were added late Saturday afternoon on Clallam County COVID-19 website.
Two cases were taken off the local books on Friday because Clallam County was not their place of residence.
Clallam County has listed 576 total cases since March, with 198 active cases. Unthank said five people are in the hospital with COVID-19 and that two people are in intensive care.
Two Clallam County residents died from COVID-19 last week, giving the county four total deaths from the disease since August.
The infection rate in Clallam County is listed at 214 per 100,000 over the past two weeks, well into the high-risk category. Unthank said that while this is serious, the county at least appears to be leveling off at the low 200s, while other areas of Washington are continuing to see the infection rates grow as high as 400 to 500 per 100,000.
Meanwhile, Jefferson County had two definite new positives Friday and is investigating two likely positives Saturday, Locke said. That would give Jefferson County 178 total cases since March with 18 active cases. Jefferson County’s posted infection rate is 137.93.
(Graphic by Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Vaccine coming
Unthank talked at length about the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine soon. The first people to get that vaccine will be frontline first responders and health care providers. Next in line will be patients and workers in long-term nursing care facilities.
Unthank said there will be a limited amount of vaccine to begin with, but it will be enough to take care of health care workers.
“We’re in a good position to vaccinate the majority of our health care workers by the end of the year,” Unthank said. “I’m very excited about vaccinating our health care workers.”
She said new shipments of vaccine will be expected every two weeks with different tiers of people becoming eligible to receive vaccines. She said the general public won’t be vaccinated until spring most likely.
Unthank also said there is roughly a six-week period before the vaccine takes full effect. People will receive two series of vaccinations about three to four weeks apart, and then the vaccine will be fully effective in another two weeks. So a person getting the first shot in early January would be fully protected by mid-February.
“The goal is to get 75 percent of the population vaccinated by summer,” she said.
Locke agreed that it will be spring before everyone can get vaccinated.
“There’s a lot of priority groups to go through,” he said.
PUD offices closed
Because of a possible exposure to COVID-19, Clallam Public Utility District offices in Sekiu and Forks will be closed to drive-through customers until at least Monday, according to the PUD.
Nicole Clark, communications manager with the Clallam PUD, said this information came to light late Friday. She didn’t have a lot of details on what the exposure was and was hoping to get more information Monday. She didn’t know yet if PUD employees had tested positive or had simply come in contact with others who have tested positive.
She said these offices are generally closed anyway on the weekends, but they will remain closed to drive-through payments Monday morning until the PUD has more information.
Customers can check the PUD’s website at clallampud.net or call 360-452-9771 or 1-800-542-7859 if they have questions about their accounts or payments. Payments can also be made 24/7 by calling 844-239-0074 or using the PUD’s SmartHub app. A new 24/7 payment kiosk has also been installed at the PUD’s Sekiu office.
Jamestown drive-through
The Jamestown Family Health Clinic, in coordination with Olympic Medical Center and the Clallam County Department of Health, is offering drive-through COVID testing at its Sequim clinic. Testing is available to all people regardless if they receive care at the Jamestown Clinic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Criteria for testing includes anyone with mild symptoms, anyone with exposure to someone with known or suspected COVID-19. People requiring testing prior to a medical procedure are also welcome. Testing is not currently available for pre-travel or other reasons not listed.
People will need to provide identification. Anonymous testing is not available. The test site is located in the southeast parking lot area of 808 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim. No appointment is needed. Test results take 48 to 72 hours. Rapid testing is not available at this location.
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Sports Editor Pierre La Bossiere can be reached at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
