HomeMy WebLinkAbout01252021_Muzik_COVID Vaccine_ResponseFrom:Tom Locke
To:Carol Muzik
Cc:Liz Anderson; Vicki Kirkpatrick; Karen Abbott
Subject:Re: Vaccines
Date:Monday, January 25, 2021 3:50:28 PM
Attachments:image003.png
Ms. Muzik,
I understand your frustration at not being able to schedule COVID vaccination. Jefferson
County was one of the first Counties to receive COVID vaccine and has administered over
4,200 doses as of today. This is the 4th highest rate in Washington State adjusted for
population. Washington State receives around 100,000 doses of the vaccine per week. There
are 1.2 million people who are 65 years of age or older in WA State. There are over 12,000 in
Jefferson County. There is simply not enough vaccine to immunize everyone right away.
Given our large population of residents over 85 who are at very high risk of Covid
complications, Jefferson County elected to begin with this age group. We are currently
vaccinating people 75 years of age and older and will move to younger populations as soon as
possible. COVID risk is strongly linked to age and our goal at this early stage of the vaccination
campaign is to save as many lives as possible. Vaccinating everyone is going to take months.
We are continuously working on improved communication but there is simply no way to
vaccinate everyone who wants to vaccinated all at once when vaccine supplies are so limited.
Eligibility does not guarantee availability. This is not a matter of organization or
communication, it is the brutal reality of limited vaccine supplies. Anger and finger pointing
will not solve this problem. Staying united as a community and supporting those who are
working very hard to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is the best strategy.
Sincerely,
Tom Locke, MD, MPH
Jefferson County Health Officer
From: Carol Muzik <carol.muzik@icloud.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2021 11:17 AM
To: Board of Health <boh@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Vaccines
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Dear Board of Health,
In my attempts to find out what is going on with the vaccine distribution in Jefferson County I
watched the video portion of your last meeting that pertained to this. I understand that you are not
getting the vaccine in the numbers we need.
My frustration is hearing from friends that are below the age of 70 in Walla Walla County and Skagit
County whom were all able to make appointments and receive their vaccines this last week. Even in
Idaho the vaccine is being given to age 65 and above! Why are we, the oldest county in the state of
WA, unable to get enough vaccine? It also seems we are completely unable to make appointments
even though we are eligible to get the vaccine. I am not sure what this is going to take, whom to
communicate with to improve this, along with improving the website at Jefferson Healthcare as a
single point of information and contact, but I would say something needs to be done. I also think
that the Jefferson Healthcare website needs to be updated daily. The last update is January 13,
2021.
Thank you,
Carol Muzik
This attached photo is from the Walla Walla Fairgrounds on 1.23.2021 where they are doing
community vaccinations for ages 65 and above: