Getting the COVID-19 vaccine ‘doesn’t mean you’re invincible’

The State Department of Health says there have been more than 297,513 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington, and 4 285 people have died from the virus across the state. State says 616,589 doses of vaccine were administered. Check below for more updates.

We are currently in Phase 1B Tier 1 vaccine distribution, which means the vaccine is available to anyone 65 years of age and older, and anyone 50 years and older who also live in a multigenerational household.

Find a vaccination location near you.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington state

Monday February 1

2:16 p.m. – Snohomish County is report declining COVID case rates for the third week in a row, with 184 cases per 100,000 residents.

At its peak, the county had 444 cases per 100,000 people. While that number is now “in the right direction,” the county is urging people to continue to wear masks in public, wash their hands frequently and avoid crowds.

12:41 p.m. – Washington State Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer calls on Governor Inslee to ban providers from giving special access to appointments for vaccines. Sauer says some hospitals have offered easy-to-access appointments for donors and board members. She has also heard of some pharmacies and doctors’ offices offering VIP photos to family members of employees, or only to patients.

Sauer sent a letter to vaccine suppliers on Monday, asking them to treat everyone the same.

11:24 am – Three mass vaccination sites will be closed at least Monday and Tuesday in Snohomish County for a COVID-19 vaccine shortage, according to county health officials. Read more.

10:20 a.m. – Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted that 405 eligible grocery store workers were vaccinated on Sunday. She also reported that the city had vaccinated 2,436 vulnerable Seattle residents and workers in just over two weeks. The Seattle Fire mobile team visited 85 adult family homes, 12 affordable housing buildings, three pop-ups, and two apartment buildings with permanent support services.

9:12 – Two mass vaccination sites will open in South King County on Monday – one at the ShoWare Center in Kent, the second at the General Services Administration Complex in Auburn – but appointments are already filled next week. On Sunday, the Kent COVID-19 vaccination site is full until February 20 and the Auburn site is full until February 10. Both sites continue to book appointments, which can be scheduled online here.

Due to the limited vaccine supply, these two sites are currently limited to residents 75 years of age or older; or those who are 50 years of age or older and cannot live independently or live with relatives and care for loved ones; or those providing care to someone 50 years of age or older who cannot live independently. Additional groups will be able to make appointments at these sites as the supply of vaccines increases.

7:34 a.m. – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association previously established guidelines and voted to start traditional fall sports on February 1, so some high school sports are starting today. Restrictions will be in place and athletes will be required to maintain a safe distance, disinfect equipment and wear a mask.

A full season schedule and a summary of current guidelines released by the State Department of Health can be found on the WIAA’s COVID-19 page online here.

5:40 a.m. – A reminder from the State Department of Health: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not make you invincible to the virus, especially given the presence of new variants. Health officials say it’s still possible to catch and spread COVID-19 once vaccinated, although the changes are much less significant.

Anyone who has been vaccinated should continue to wear masks and socially distance themselves.

Read last week’s updates here.