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You are receiving this message because you subscribed for COVID-19 updates from the Kitsap Public Health District. Find more local vaccine information at kcowa.us/vaccine
State expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to include school and childcare staff
Educators, school staff, and workers in licensed childcare settings join priority groups already eligible under Phase 1b, Tier 1.
Acting on a directive issued by the White House on Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health have added educators and staff in schools and childcare settings to the current phase of COVID-19 vaccination (Phase 1b, Tier 1).
Kitsap Public Health District supports the state’s decision. Safely returning children to classrooms and childcare centers is a hugely important goal for our community — both for our health and our economy. Making vaccine available to adults working with children will be key to that effort. We look forward to receiving additional guidance from the state regarding this new vaccination priority group.
Kitsap Public Health is coordinating with Olympic Educational Service District 114 and local vaccine providers to gather data on school staff eligible for vaccination in our county and explore options for providing access to vaccination. Our epidemiologists are also compiling information on childcare facilities.
We will share information about additional vaccination opportunities for these groups as soon as possible. We are aware of, and vigorously support, vaccine efforts for school staff already underway with local healthcare providers and tribal nations.
We recommend school employees who want to get vaccinated start by checking with their school administration and their regular healthcare provider before reaching out to other vaccine providers. The state's Phase Finder tool has been updated to include the new priority groups.
People already eligible for vaccination are still prioritized
As eligibility expands, Kitsap Public Health remains committed to vaccinating community members who already qualify under the current phase, including residents 65 and older, and people 50 and older in multigenerational households.
We continue to promote equitable access to vaccination for all eligible residents across our county. Our public health focus is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible, and to identify and address gaps in our vaccination efforts for communities most affected by COVID-19.
Everyone who is eligible for vaccination under the current phase can go to covidvaccinwa.org or call 1-800-525-0127 to find vaccine providers or get help booking appointments.
It is important to remember that vaccine supplies are still limited and not everyone who is eligible will be able to get vaccinated immediately. Vaccine supplies and vaccination opportunities change weekly. We encourage eligible community members check often to find available appointments and take any opportunity to get vaccinated.
Thank you for your continued patience and support!
Keep fighting the spread of COVID-19
We will need to use all the tools available to us to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end:
- Wear a mask when you are around people you don't live with.
- Keep at least 6 feet of space between you and people you don't live with.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Be ready to get vaccinated when you become eligible.
- Stay home if you feel sick.
- Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been around someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Go to kcowa.us/covidtesting
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COVID-19 VACCINE RESOURCES
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CONTACT: covidvaccine@kitsappublichealth.org
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