SFD Launches Citywide Effort To Convey Vaccinations Instantly To Seattle Residents And Employees

Harold Scoggins, Seattle Fire Department chief

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVT) have made renewed efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccinations directly to Seattle residents and workers. The MVT’s new mobile efforts coordinate with small businesses and stakeholders in the community to visit high-traffic areas and parks across the city and offer pop-up vaccinations to everyone in the area. This new mobile vaccination strategy is an attempt to meet Seattle residents and workers where they are and increase vaccination rates with a focus on younger Seattle residents.

“Over 70 percent of the Seattleiter in question have started the vaccination process. This is an incredible achievement and speaks to our communities’ commitment to protecting the health and safety of our entire city, ”said Durkan. “To make it easier for all residents to access, we are developing innovative new ways to vaccinate our residents and workers. With this mobile approach from Seattle Fire, we’re meeting communities where they are and delivering the vaccine to them. All Seat leaders can do their part and help people in their lives get vaccinated. We can only beat this pandemic if we work together. “

As part of this mobile vaccination effort, the City of Seattle is working with the U District Partnership this Friday, May 7th, to host the SFD MVTs on Ave. The City’s Economic Development Bureau (OED) is coordinating with small businesses across U District and surrounding neighborhoods to ensure that all employees who have not yet been vaccinated have the opportunity to be vaccinated at this clinic. In addition to vaccinating small business owners and employees, the SFD MVTs offer walk-up and roll-up vaccinations to all people in the region who want a vaccine.

The SFD MVTs will be offering the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines on Friday. Patients who choose the Moderna vaccine will receive their second dose at either the Rainier Beach or West Seattle vaccination centers. The mobile clinic operates from 12pm to 5pm on the corner of NE 43rd Street and University Way NE.

“There are nearly 150 bars, restaurants and cafes in the U District, most of which continued to operate during the pandemic,” said Don Blakeney, executive director of the U District partnership. “By bringing vaccines to the U District, we can ensure that our employees and small business owners have extremely easy access to this important public health resource. We appreciate the work of the city in realizing this pop-up vaccination center. ”

Over the coming weeks, SFD MVTs will continue to visit business districts across the city, as well as parks, beaches, and outdoor dining areas to provide no-appointment vaccinations for those who wish. These vaccinations are only for those who have not yet started the vaccination process, and SFD offers a choice of Johnson & Johnson or Moderna.

“We continue to explore new and creative ways to make vaccination as easy as possible,” said fire chief Harold Scoggins. “By offering vaccinations at our sporting events, maintaining our vaccination centers in Rainier Beach and West Seattle, and now using our mobile vaccination teams in parks, beaches and other crowded places, we’re making an impact.”

“Since we are focused on recovery, vaccination pop-ups are a way to ensure vaccines are equally available to everyone while supporting small businesses in the neighborhood,” said Pamela Banks, director of the Bureau of Economic Development and director for recovery and just investment. “The U District has some of the lowest vaccination rates and lots of small businesses in high traffic areas. So it is important that we bring them vaccines. We are proud of the small businesses that are also getting involved in the vaccination effort by encouraging their neighbors to get vaccinated. We must all work together to build community resilience. “

Since the vaccination effort began on Jan. 14, the city of Seattle has given over 170,000 vaccinations to eligible adults (over 111,000 people). These vaccinations were given in 88 adult family homes, 90 affordable residential buildings with seniors and people with disabilities, 19 pop-ups, 18 permanent supportive residential buildings, two vulnerable youth organizations, city sporting events, and the four city-affiliated vaccination centers. About 46 percent of people vaccinated by the city identify as BIPOC communities.

For more information, including information about vaccination today, visit the city’s vaccination website at www.seattle.gov/vaccine.