Pilot Community Vaccination Center Opens Wednesday
It's called a Pilot Community Vaccination Center and it opens today at Yakima's State Fair Park. Appointments are needed. Click here to make an appointment. https://www.yakimacounty.us/2472/COVID-19-Vaccine
Not only will the fixed drive-through site will be open Wednesday but county officials are also adding mobile vaccination units to vaccinate people in rural areas of the county.
According to the Associated Press more people are eligible for the vaccine on Wednesday. "As of Wednesday, about 5 million of the state’s more than 7.6 million residents will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The latest tier expansion was announced by Inslee earlier this month. Starting Wednesday, eligibility will be extended to those those 16 and older with two or more comorbidities, anyone between the ages of 60 and 64, and workers age 16 and older who work in restaurants, manufacturing and construction. In addition, those living in congregate settings like correctional facilities or group homes for disabilities, or those experiencing homelessness will also be eligible for a vaccine."
County officials say through the partnership with the state and federal government vaccination capacity at the location will expand from about 200 vaccines per day to 1,200 vaccines per day between the fixed, drive-thru site and mobile units.
The mobile units will be busy providing vaccination services to the rural and agricultural communities, including Selah, Naches, Wapato, Toppenish, Zillah, Sunnyside, Mabton, and Grandview.
FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich “This partnership is a positive step toward ensuring all eligible individuals who want a COVID-19 vaccine have access to one. These 1,200 daily vaccine doses will make sure that Yakima’s rural, underserved communities with a high risk of COVID-19 infection are receiving the help they need,”
The new site will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday. On Thursdays it will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mobile unit locations and hours will be available and updated on the Yakima Health District website YakimaHealthDistrict.org.
Beginning May 1 anyone 16-years-old or older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.
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