White River High School played host to a COVID-19 vaccination site over the weekend, organized by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

Registration for the event opened on Feb. 4 for people to come to the school grounds on Feb. 6; according to health department spokesperson Stephanie Dunkel, registration for this event and a tandem event in Gig Harbor filled up in about 20 minutes.

“Our goal was to vaccinate 600 people, and we met that goal,” Dunkel said of the Buckley event. “We had really everyone that had appointments show up, and any of our remaining doses, we were able to get out to anybody on a waitlist in Phase 1A or Phase 1B1. Everything went really well.”

More than 60 health department staff and volunteers helped out at the vaccination site, Dunkel continued.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department plans to return to White River High School in the next month or so for the booster clinic, though no specific date has been set yet.

Dunkel said she was amazed by the community support the health department has received through these events.

“We’re grateful for the partners that helped with that, setting it up. It’s really appreciated,” she said. “People were just friendly and lovely and it was a really great community event. We’re excited to come back out for the booster clinic.”

Dunkel noted it’s possible that people who still need to receive the first vaccination could do so at the booster clinic if there’s enough vaccine available.

ENUMCLAW ASKS FOR VACCINATION SITE

Across the White River, the city of Enumclaw, along with St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Enumclaw Fire Department, have asked Public Health — Seattle & King County to set up a vaccination site.

Mayor Jan Molinaro sent a joint letter to the health department on Feb. 3.

“St. Elizabeth Hospital, part of the CHI Franciscan family, the Enumclaw Fire Department and the city of Enumclaw, in partnership, are jointly requesting that a mass vaccination sire and a mobile vaccination team, be located in our community of Enumclaw,” the letter reads. “Currently King County Health operated a COVID test sire which can easily be used for the vaccination site. We ask that a discussion begin soon to map a path to opening this site to serve our citizens in Enumclaw and the plateau.”

Enumclaw’s testing site, located right across from city hall at 1512 Wells St., opened Dec. 10, and continues to test anyone for COVID-19 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays form 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

People who want to get tested can walk or drive up to the testing site, but are encouraged to register for a time slot by heading to www.solvhealth.com/book-online/pYWRj0.

Test results are returned in 24 to 48 hours.