It was just a matter of time. Each week, Annie Parker, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s Director of Clinic Operations and COVID-19 Team Lead, would order first-dose vaccines and wait. Over the past month, with historic cold and snow spread across the nation, doses became sparse and the replies from the Department of Health (DOH) became consistent: No first dose vaccines were available for the hospital.
That was until this past week when the approval from DOH was not just for a small supply of first-dose vaccines, but almost 2,000 doses, in addition to the requested second-dose vaccines. Thanks to more than a month of planning calls and meetings with the Snoqualmie Fire Department and City of Snoqualmie staff, the teams are ready to get these doses into arms in less than two weeks.
The hospital’s first Mass Vaccination Clinic for people who are eligible is scheduled for March 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“I am truly excited that Snoqualmie Valley Hospital has received enough vaccines that we can offer a mass vaccination event for our community,” said Renee Jensen, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer. “Not only do we have the honor of supporting our community during the pandemic but we have the honor of partnering with Snoqualmie Fire Department and local city officials. Their support, coordination efforts and volunteers are making this event possible.”
Snoqualmie Fire Department’s Deputy Chief Mike Bailey said he shares in the excitement around the event.
“Everyone has been doing their part to stop the spread of COVID through social distancing and masks,” he said. “Getting shots in the arms of the most amount of people as quickly as possible is the next step in fighting the spread.”
In December, the hospital constructed a second outbuilding, nicknamed “The Barn,” to provide COVID testing in the mornings and COVID vaccines in the afternoons. Open five days each week from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Barn has seen steady traffic since opening on Christmas Eve for vaccines. Since December the hospital has provided almost 4,500 vaccines and since March 2020, the team performed more than 11,000 COVID-19 tests from various locations on the hospital campus.
“The SVH COVID team takes their COVID responsibility seriously and that proof is evident in the five-star ratings they’ve been rewarded by their patients,” Parker said. “We’ve enjoyed collaborating with our community, especially with local skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and senior centers as we ensure all of our seniors are getting vaccinated.”
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital will be hosting a MASS VACCINATION CLINIC for people eligible (See PhaseFinder for eligibility.) for first-dose vaccines on March 28 in collaboration with the Snoqualmie Fire Department and Emergency Management.
Appointments are required and online scheduling is now open for the clinic through SolvHealth. If you cannot access the online scheduling portal, please call 425-396-7682 or 425-831-2300.
Mass Vaccination Clinic Details
Date: Sunday, March 28, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, 9801 Frontier Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
Appointments are Required: Schedule appointments online here.
If your access to the internet is limited and you are unable to schedule online, please call (425) 396-7682 or (425) 831-2300 and a hospital representative will schedule your appointment for you.
Comments
Although we appreciate the drive through vaccinations the process is unnecessarily slow. With just two cars in front of us it took 40 minutes to get the actual shot. They need more staff or volunteers and to streamline the process. Take a look at other local vaccination programs to see how to do that. IE don’t have the same person drawing up the shot, giving it, etc.
That makes sense. I hope by the 28th they will have learned from their mistakes!