Seattle hits COVID-19 ‘70%’ vaccination milestone

(Image: City of Seattle)

On March 1, CHS reported on Seattle’s start on the march to hit the 70% vaccination mark, a level officials said would enable the region to successfully weather the COVID-19 crisis.

This week the city celebrated reaching the milestone after half a year of vaccine availability and a big boost since the spring.

Officials said Wednesday that Seattle was “the first major American city to fully vaccinate 70% of its residents ages 12 and older”.

“Seattle is America’s most vaccinated metropolis, and it would not have been possible without the commitment of our residents to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our entire community.” Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement.

Shaped by early frustrations over inadequate supplies as thousands of health care providers and pharmacies searched for vaccinations that had registered with the state due to a patchwork of online registrations and signups, city clinics helped, including the Megasite in Lumen Field meet the demand for the recordings in the Seattle area while Seattle Fires mobile vaccination efforts strengthened the city’s ability to reach vulnerable communities.

The past few weeks have seen widespread availability and increasing incentives to get vaccinated, including freebies like free beer and the new state lottery.

Seattle’s announcement comes as the city prepares to close its clinics, including the Lumen megasite, to focus on the smaller, more agile mobile vaccination efforts.

Meanwhile, Governor Jay Inslee has set June 30th as the deadline for the state to fully reopen and lift COVID-19 restrictions. The full reopening could happen sooner – when the percentage of eligible adults who started vaccination reaches 70%. That number is currently just over 51%, with counties like King and Jefferson well over 60% while places like northeast counties Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille have less than 30% of their eligible population vaccinated.

With schools scheduled to start summer vacation shortly before a planned personal opening later this year, progress will also be made in vaccinating under 12s by the fall.

Meanwhile, positive cases and total hospital stays are finally collapsing, and health officials are seeing a worrying but expected trend in those who test positive. 97% of recent King County’s COVID-19 cases are among those who have not yet been vaccinated.

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