Vaccine Data

Providers in Whatcom County are due to receive 2,370 first doses of and 2,600 second doses COVID-19 vaccine for the week of March 8th. The number of first doses includes 1,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires 1 dose to complete the series. 

To date, providers in Whatcom County have received a total of 33,885 first doses. As of March 6th, 41,569 Whatcom County residents have received their first dose and 20,128 have been fully vaccinated.

See the graphic below for more local vaccine data. 

Community Vaccination Center

Earlier today we announced that the Community Vaccination Center at BTC will open to the public on March 13. You can read more in our earlier News Flash or get details on our website.

Vaccine Town Hall

In order to continue providing reliable, timely, and vital updates about the COVID-19 vaccine in Whatcom County, we are hosting a Town Hall on Thursday, March 18th  from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will be live-streamed on Whatcom County’s YouTube channel. Several community healthcare providers will be in attendance, including Family Care Network, PeaceHealth, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, and Unity Care Northwest. We’ll be discussing vaccination efforts at each provider, and provide updates about the Community Vaccination Center at BTC.

The meeting is part of an ongoing effort to keep you informed of our community’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, plans, and progress.

Here are the details:

• What: Whatcom County Vaccination Conversations
• When: Thursday, March 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Who: Representatives from Family Care Network, PeaceHealth, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, and Unity Care Northwest, facilitated by the Whatcom County Health Department.
• Where: the event will be live-streamed on Whatcom County’s YouTube Channel. 

Projected Washington Vaccine Timeline

More people will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks. On March 4, Governor Inslee announced the projected Washington Vaccine Timeline, outlining when the next Tiers of Phase 1B can expect to become eligible for vaccination. Here’s what you need to know:

• On March 22, high-risk workers in certain congregate settings, such as grocery stores, food processing facilities, public transit, and agriculture, will be eligible. People age 16+ who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at higher risk will also become eligible then.
• On April 12, we expect anyone over the age of 50 with two or more underlying health conditions (comorbidities) will be eligible.
• On April 26, we expect anyone over the age of 16 with two or more comorbidities to be eligible. People living, working, or volunteering in congregate settings and people experiencing homelessness will also be eligible then.

Progress on this timeline will depend on vaccine supply. Learn more about the details of when you may be eligible to be vaccinated.

Safe Behaviors Post-Vaccine

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has adopted CDC guidance for individuals who are fully vaccinated. If someone has been fully vaccinated, they can:

• Gather indoors with fully vaccinated people in private residences without wearing a mask.
• Gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household in private residences  without masks (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together). Everyone should still wear a mask if anyone they has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Vaccinated people should continue to wear masks when they are in public, avoid crowds, and take other precautions (like handwashing) when gathering with unvaccinated people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Learn more from the CDC. 

More Information

More information about the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine planning, and vaccine safety can be found on the DOH’s COVID-19 vaccine web page at www.covidvaccinewa.org. For information about the COVID-19 vaccination in Whatcom County, visit our webpage at www.whatcomcounty.us/covidvaccine.