With COVID-19 vaccine supply limited, PeaceHealth is contacting eligible patients

||| FROM DEANNA ELLEFSON for PEACE HEALTH |||

Although the state of Washington recently expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, the demand for vaccine continues to exceed the number of doses the state has made available for eligible groups. As we receive vaccine, PeaceHealth is reaching out to patients whose health record indicates they are eligible to schedule vaccine appointments, including those who are most medically vulnerable.

Please do not call to schedule vaccine appointments or visit our clinics without a scheduled appointment.

PeaceHealth has about 1,800 established patients in San Juan County who are 65 or older or who receive care from a PeaceHealth Medical Group specialist and are considered high risk; we just received the first shipment of  vaccine and have enough supply for 100 people in these categories, with no more vaccine available beyond the first shipment. These individuals have already been scheduled to receive the vaccine. We will not schedule vaccine appointments for patients unless we have vaccine available, and we are committed to securing required second doses for patients who receive a first dose from PeaceHealth.

At this time, PeaceHealth is contacting patients whose medical record indicates they are eligible by phone, or by email through our My PeaceHealth patient portal. This includes those who are established with PeaceHealth for primary care and those who have been seen by a PeaceHealth specialist and identified by their provider to be at higher risk.

If you are a PeaceHealth patient or have visited a PeaceHealth location in the past, you are encouraged to sign up for a My PeaceHealth account or log in to your existing account to ensure your contact information is up-to-date at my.peacehealth.org. Because our vaccine supply is extremely limited – and the amount of supply we receive varies from week-to-week – it may take time before you are able to schedule a vaccination appointment.

We continue to follow state guidance to vaccinate health care workers, first responders and other 1a community members as quickly as possible in Washington. We will broaden our outreach in group 1b1 as more vaccine supply is made available.

We are eager to partner with others in bringing an end to this pandemic, but the vaccination effort will take time. We are actively advocating with federal, state, and local partners for more vaccine to be made available in our communities, including outreach to vulnerable populations and communities of color.

Visit our website for the latest updates on vaccine eligibility and availability, and sign up to receive notifications on vaccines at peacehealth.org/vaccine.

About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, a 10-bed Critical Access Hospital in Friday Harbor, serves communities in the San Juan Islands. Key services include general and orthopedic surgery, oncology, diagnostic imaging, behavioral health and primary care. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.