Health District: Pace of vaccinations expected to pick up

||| BY SUSAN MCBAIN, theORCASONIAN REPORTER |||

The outlook for increasing the pace of COVID vaccinations on Orcas in the near future is good, according to presenters at the Feb. 2 meeting of the Orcas Island Health Care District.

Orcas Family Health Center (OFHC) began its vaccination program last Friday, the 5th, at Orcas Center in conjunction with the County Department of Health and Community Services’ weekly event. OFHC is contacting its patients directly, and it is also offering those who call the clinic a phone option that lets them request a vaccination appointment. OFHC is saving some appointments for people who do not have computer access. Because of uncertainties such as allocation amounts and timing, OFHC recommends that people seek appointments or wait-listing with both the County and OFHC. (Second vaccine doses are automatically allocated when a person receives a first shot.) OFHC is also continuing its testing program and expects to do so through the end of March.

UW Medicine has been doing daily testing but is now shifting to vaccinations; the Orcas clinic hopes to begin offering vaccinations in the next couple of weeks and continue until its last day of operations, March 26. Vaccine supplies, however, remain uncertain. When vaccine becomes available, UW will make an announcement on its website, via emails to patients, and in its phone message. The staff will also reach out directly to patients who are likely to have poor access to care, language difficulties, or other barriers, and will keep some appointments available to meet their needs.

The County continues its weekly Friday vaccination events on Orcas and plans to add other days each week when vaccine supplies permit. Ray’s Pharmacy has also received approval to offer vaccine and is working on plans to begin vaccinations.

The District Transition Committee reported that Island Hospital (IH) had made13 offers to staff of the two existing clinics and that all 13 had been accepted. Provider hiring is still in process, but should be complete the week of Feb. 15. IH has planned a community briefing for Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. Note that this meeting will be held via Webex, and advance registration is required. Please RSVP HERE.

One new committee will be added to the District’s formal committee structure, as required by its contract with IH: a Community Outreach committee, jointly with IH. This committee will focus on direct outreach activities and will also consider results of Community Health Needs Assessments to help plan District activities for improving the overall health of the Orcas community. Richard Fralick and Pegi Groundwater will be the District representatives.

Finally, the District, County Health and Community Services, and County Medical Officer Dr. Frank James repeated a plea to Orcas residents: please don’t travel off island or host visitors during upcoming breaks and holidays if avoidable. Travel is the source of all current cases on Orcas, and avoiding travel reduces the odds of exposing yourself and others to the virus.

The District’s next regular meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m. The Zoom link for the meeting will be posted a few days in advance on the District’s Meetings Calendar; click the link on Feb. 16 to attend.