Free drive-thru clinics to serve people in phases 1A and 1B Tier 1 by appointment only
TACOMA, Wash.— People who are eligible can receive free COVID-19 vaccine at one of two drive-thru community events. The clinics—which are available by appointment only—are a partnership of MultiCare Health System, Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. More COVID-19 vaccine availability means more hope to end the pandemic in Pierce County.
Many residents are eager for their turn to get vaccinated. Vaccine supplies remain limited, which is why Washington State Department of Health developed a phased approach to prioritize those who are most at risk for COVID-19. Vaccination for the general public is still months away and may not start until the second quarter.
If Phase Finder determines you’re eligible for vaccine at this time, you must make an appointment using the links below. Walk-ins are not available.
Where and when are the clinics?
Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood
Jan. 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Enter at both Steilacoom Boulevard entrances and get directed to vaccination site.
Register
Washington State Fair Events Center
110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup
Jan. 28, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Enter at Blue Parking Lot.
Register
About the clinics.
You will:
- Receive vaccine while you remain in your car.
- Schedule your second dose appointment when you receive your first.
- Pay nothing.
Each clinic will have approximately 1,500 appointments available. Clinic locations are based on ease of access and the ability to serve large numbers of people who are currently eligible to receive vaccine, including those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Who are the clinics for?
People in phases 1A and 1B Tier 1 of the state’s vaccination plan are eligible for these clinics. Check your eligibility on the state’s Phase Finder tool. If you’re eligible, you must make an appointment for one of the clinics.
Phase 1B Tier 1
- 65 years or older.
- 50 years or older and live in a multigenerational household (two or more generations).
Phase 1A
- People who work in healthcare and can't work remotely.
- Medical first responders.
- People who live or work in long-term care facilities.
Expect more pop up clinics like these in the county as more vaccine becomes available. We’re working on details for one in Gig Harbor and will provide that information soon. Find a current list of locations where you can access vaccine at www.tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture. Check back often as we add more locations to the list.
If you’re eligible for vaccine, please schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Encourage your friends and family to do the same when it’s their turn. The vaccine is our best hope to end the pandemic. COVID-19 is still active in our community, so continue to practice healthy habits—even after you receive vaccine:
Quotations from Agency Leadership
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
“The strength of our partnerships countywide means we can be agile and move quickly to get vaccine to eligible people once it becomes available,” said Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Director of Health Anthony L-T Chen, MD, MPH. "Expect to see more strategies to better serve our different communities and populations," he said.
Pierce County
“Getting Pierce County residents vaccinated is our top priority right now,” said County Executive Bruce Dammeier. “I appreciate the strong collaboration our emergency management team has with our partners in public health, healthcare, and local government.”
MultiCare Health System
“It’s critical that we get this vaccine to our community as quickly and safely as we can. MultiCare is proud to partner with the county and other health organizations in this effort,” said Bill Robertson, president and CEO of MultiCare Health System.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
“As we confront COVID-19, it’s imperative that we work together to protect our communities,” said Dr. Michael H. Anderson, chief medical officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. “Hospital employees have worked diligently to distribute the vaccine, and these partnerships will allow us to increase access to eligible populations even further.”
About Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s mission is to protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County. As part of our mission, the Health Department tackles known and emerging health risks through policy, programs and treatment to protect public health. We are one of roughly 244 accredited health departments in the country and among six in the state to have met or exceeded the Public Health Accreditation Board’s quality standards. Learn more at www.tpchd.org.
About Pierce County Department of Emergency Management
Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (PCDEM) is a nationally recognized and award-winning department charged with preparing and protecting the people that choose to live, work, and raise a family in the second largest county in Washington State. It is one of the first county emergency management departments in the United States to be accredited through the rigorous Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). PCDEM uses a business process that is data-driven, evidenced based, leverages integrated systems and emphasizes a culture of continuous innovation and a passion for customer service.
About MultiCare Health System
MultiCare is a not-for-profit health care organization with more than 20,000 team members, including employees, providers and volunteers. MultiCare has been caring for our community for well over a century, since the founding of Tacoma’s first hospital and today is the largest community-based, locally governed health system in the state of Washington.
MultiCare’s comprehensive system of health includes numerous primary care, urgent care and specialty services — including MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care, Pulse Heart Institute and MultiCare Rockwood Clinic, the largest multispecialty clinic in the Inland Northwest region. MultiCare’s network of care also includes 10 hospitals.
About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health brings together two leading health systems in Washington state – CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason – into one integrated health system with more than 300 care sites in western Washington. With a team of 18,000 team members and staff, and nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provides expert, compassionate medical care at 11 hospitals and nearly 300 sites of care throughout the Puget Sound region. The integrated health system has nearly 1,500 hospital beds and also includes Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS; Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research; and Virginia Mason Institute, which trains health care professionals and others around the world in the Virginia Mason Production System, an innovative management method for improving quality and safety. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health includes hospitals throughout Washington, including Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle; St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale and Bremerton; St. Anne Hospital, Burien; Rehabilitation Hospital, Tacoma; and Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, Tacoma.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is committed to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, including the poor and underserved, providing nearly $200 million in community benefit—free, subsidized and reduced-cost health care and programs.
Media Contacts Only
Steve Metcalf, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
(253) 345-8238, smetcalf@tpchd.org
Mike Halliday, Pierce County Department of Emergency Management
(253) 244-8766 mike.halliday@piercecountywa.gov
Anna Agnew, MultiCare Health System
(253) 777-1528 acagnew@multicare.org
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
(253) 382-3889, vmfhmedia@quinnthomas.com
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