After months of strained supply and complicated tiers of eligibility, it’s now so easy to get a COVID-19 shot that the state of Washington will literally drive you to one.
The Mariners are offering COVID-19 vaccines at games. Albertsons and Safeway now offer walk-in vaccinations. King County still offers in-home shots for those with difficulty leaving the house; call 206-477-3977 to see if you’re eligible.
And on Wednesday, May 5, the state Department of Health (DOH) announced that a coalition of ride share companies and non-profits will offer codes for free or discounted rides to vaccinations for those who have trouble getting around.
Those interested can call the state hotline at 833-VAX-HELP to see if they can get a ride. The service is limited to places that offer Lyft and Uber services, a DOH spokesperson said, and contingent on the state having enough ride credits to go around.
In the meanwhile, getting a shot in Enumclaw may be the easier way to go.
Pharmacies across the city said they have started to see supply outstrip demand. It’s an observation that Enumclaw Fire Chief Randy Fehr concurred with.
“Yeah, I think that’s what we’re seeing right now,” Fehr said. “I think that that’s not just an Enumclaw trend, that’s a regional, probably a state type trend.”
But Fehr also cautioned that “quite frankly, as they open them up to more age groups and things like that, that might change.”
Anyone 16 and older is now eligible to receive one of the three vaccines authorized in the U.S.: Pfizer, Moderna and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson. On Monday, the FDA extended that emergency authorization for Pfizer to children 12 and older, so that vaccine is very close to being available for those children.
According to data from kingcounty.gov as of May 6, roughly 102,000 southeast King County residents eligible for the vaccine have gotten at least one dose. That comes out to about 59 percent of those eligible, slightly below the county average of 68 percent.
More than half of eligible Washingtonians have gotten at least their first shot, according to the DOH.
There’s still no mass vaccination site available on the Plateau itself, so the list below contains all the pharmacies and clinics we’ve found in the area that’s currently offering vaccines. Right now, they’re all located in Enumclaw. If we missed one, please send an email to alex.bruell@courierherald.com.
One final note: The information provided is based on what pharmacies reported May 4, so some details – especially like what brands they are carrying – may be out of date when you sign up. Call 833-VAX-HELP or check online at vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov for current updates.
1455 Battersby Avenue St. Elizabeth Hospital
Appointments: Required (no walk-ins yet)
Availability: Different days depending on the week, with appointments usually starting around 6 a.m. and lasting through 6 p.m.
Contact: 253-792-2385
Register: Online at www.chifranciscan.org/patients-and-visitors/covid-19/form
Dr. Nancy Becker, 1427 Jefferson Suite 101
Appointments: Required (no walk-ins yet) and available to patients and non-patients.
Availability: Friday mornings for the first vaccine. Booster shots scheduled throughout the week.
Vaccines currently offered: Moderna.
Contact: 360-825-4466
Register: Call, visit in person, or go online at www.drnancybecker.com/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-now-available/
1009 Monroe Avenue QFC:
Appointments: Required (no walk-ins yet)
Availability: Seven days a week, with appointments starting usually around 10 a.m. and going until about 3 p.m.
Vaccines currently offered: Moderna most days, with J&J typically available one day a week.
Contact: 360-825-9360
Register: Online at QFC.com/covidvaccine
1350 Garrett Street Walgreens:
Appointments: Required (Some same-day appointments possible)
Availability: Seven days a week, with appointments starting usually around 8:30 a.m. and going until about 4 p.m. or 5 p.m.
Vaccines currently offered: Pfizer
Contact: 360-825-5739
Register: Online at walgreens.com
152 Roosevelt Avenue East Safeway:
Appointments: Optional; walk-ins accepted
Availability: Seven days a week, with appointments starting usually around 10 a.m. and going until about 5 p.m.
Vaccines currently offered: Moderna
Contact: 360-802-1534
Register: Online at http://safeway.com/covid-19
232 Roosevelt Avenue Rite Aid Pharmacy:
Appointments: Required (Some same-day appointments possible)
Availability: Tuesdays through Saturdays, with appointments
Vaccines currently offered: Johnson & Johnson and Moderna
Contact: 360-825-2558
Register: Online at www.riteaid.com/covid-19
