White House: More COVID vaccines will soon be going to pharmacies nationwide
The Biden administration will begin providing COVID-19 vaccines to U.S. pharmacies, part of its plan to ramp up vaccinations, the White House said Tuesday.
Coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients said starting next week some 6,500 pharmacies around the country will receive a total of 1 million doses of vaccine. The number of participating pharmacies, and the allocation of vaccines, are expected to accelerate as drugmakers increase production.
Washington's COVID-19 hotline call-takers help seniors navigate getting vaccine appointments
Many older people are having difficulty signing up for COVID-19 vaccines because they don't have the technology skills to snag a rare appointment, but help is on the way after several weeks of frustration.
The systems that are the backbone of Washington's vaccine infrastructure require a degree of tech-savvy and patience. In some cities, vaccination teams are visiting people in assisted living communities, but if someone lives independently, they're mostly on their own.
Stop posting pictures of your COVID-19 vaccine card on social media
The COVID-19 vaccine sticker selfie is the new "I Voted" trend on social media. Unfortunately, some people are posting pictures of their vaccine card and the Better Business Bureau says you should stop.
While you may be excited you got the shot -- and you want to share the excitement with your friends on social media, the BBB says not to post your vaccine card.
38% of US nursing home staff getting first COVID shots, CDC says
A little more than a third of nursing home workers have been getting COVID-19 vaccines when the shots are first offered, U.S. health officials said Monday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a national accounting of a problem that's been reported anecdotally — many nursing home workers are not getting the shots.
How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Washington
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released an online portal to check your eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Use the PhaseFinder tool to input personal information like age, health conditions and essential worker status to determine if it's your turn.
As of Jan. 18, Washington is vaccinating people in Phase 1A and the first tier of Phase 1B. That includes:
- High-risk health care workers and first responders
- Long-term care residents
- People 65 years old and older
- People 50 years old and older in multigenerational households
If you are eligible, find a list of vaccine providers on the DOH website and information on how to make an appointment.
