PDF Archive of items from February here (previous months available to the right)
See Food and Housing security items below Previous Developments
Previous Developments:
●Vashon Library will be opening to the public on Friday, April 9th with limited capacity (20 people at a time). The in-building service will initially be limited to Fridays and Saturdays for alternating one-hour time slots. The library will continue to offer curbside service on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For more information and hours visit kcls.org. (4/6/21)
●Public Health-Seattle & King County has updated their Frequently Asked Questions webpage about COVID-19 vaccine. The site answers questions on vaccine safety, how the vaccines work, availability, and what to expect when receiving the vaccine. Information is available in many languages. Visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine/FAQ.aspx (4/6/21)
●Go behind the scenes of the Vashon emergency response to the pandemic by streaming The Vashon Model: A Community-based Response to COVID, on Thursday April 8 at 7pm. Well-known island writer and radio personality Susan McCabe will moderate the discussion between doctors James Bristow, Ina Opplinger, Clayton Olney, and Jinna Risdal from the Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, all of whom are key players in Vashon’s nationally-recognized response to the COVID pandemic. To register for the free Zoom event, go to http://bit.ly/liveswelllived(4/6/21)
●Seattle area residents are among the most likely to get vaccinated based on a national survey by the US Census Bureau. A nationwide survey conducted in early March asked people whether they would get vaccinated. Seattle had the highest intention to vaccinate of any city at 73%, a jump of 5 points since a previous poll in January. The Puget Sound metro area also had a higher intention to get vaccinated than other metro areas in the survey. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/seattle-metro-jumps-to-no-1-for-willingness-to-get-covid-vaccine/(4/6/21)
●Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order until May 2, directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. The order continues coverage for providing telehealth; coverage of all medically necessary diagnostic testing for flu and certain other viral respiratory illnesses billed during a provider visit for COVID-19 with no copay, coinsurance or deductible; and for insurers to treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visits with no copay, coinsurance or deductible. https://www.insurance.wa.gov/news/kreidler-extends-emergency-order-telehealth-may-2 (4/6/21)
●Children may be susceptible to contracting COVID-19 from the more contagious variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the U.K. “It infects kids very readily. Unlike the previous strains of the virus, [where] we didn’t see children under eighth grade get infected often,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Danielle Zerr, the division chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease Research at Seattle Children’s said if the B.1.1.7 variant is found to be spreading in children, vaccinating them will be an important part of reaching herd immunity. She said, “I think we really need to wait to see the data, really analyze the evidence on that as to whether or not kids are truly going to experience more severe illness with the U.K. variant.” Implementing safety measures is the key to keeping children safe — social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/concerns-rise-more-children-contract-covid-19-variant/AX2TINK2JRDCZKYYVUQIL6XERQ/ (4/6/21)
●Pfizer-BioNTech announced findings from a Phase 3 clinical trial of its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among adolescents ages 12-15 with or without evidence of previous infection. No symptomatic COVID-19 cases were identified in the vaccinated group of more than 1,300 kids. Eighteen symptomatic COVID-19 cases were identified in the placebo group of 1,129 children. Those figures translate to 100% vaccine efficacy among vaccinated participants. Vaccinated participants demonstrated strong immune response one month after their second dose, and the vaccine was well-tolerated. Both immune response and side effects were consistent with results seen in previous trials among participants 16 to 25 years of age. Pfizer-BioNTech plans to submit amendments to the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency for use of the vaccine among individuals 12 and older under the current US Emergency. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-biontech-announce-positive-topline-results-pivotal (4/6/21)
End-of-Day Waitlist/Cancellation: Vashon Pharmacy has added two features to its vaccination signup page. At the beginning of each day, up to twelve people can put their names in to be called if any vaccine doses are left at the end of the day. This morning the waitlist filled in 15 minutes. The waitlist of eligible persons is reset to zero each day. In addition, there's now an appointment cancellation feature that will help reduce the number of no-shows. Both features are available at the appointment signup website: www.VashonPharmacy.com/COVID
Vax Access: The outreach to Spanish speaking residents of Vashon has so far helped more than 60 people book vaccination appointments. The Vax Access program helps promote access equity for people experiencing significant barriers to vaccination, such as physical challenges, lack of computer, and lack of English language skills. Work also continues on providing mobile vaccinations to homebound residents.
“Disease transmission is increasing and we are seeing concerning signs.” said Dr. Umair A. Shah, Secretary of Health. “Case counts are showing increases in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County.” Shah said health officials believe people could be letting up on the measures known to prevent transmission, such as masking and distancing. “We are not out of the pandemic until we’re out of the pandemic, meaning: Don’t let your guard down,” Shah said. And coronavirus variants of concern — which could spread more easily, cause more harm, or more readily escape treatment or immunity by vaccination — now make up a majority of most recent cases to receive genomic sequencing by Washington laboratories. Scientists believe two variants, named B.1.429 and B.1.427, are roughly 20% more transmissible. They may be resistant to some types of treatments, and could cause some reduction in vaccine performance. The B.1.1.7 variant, which scientists believe is about 50% more transmissible and could cause more severe COVID-19 symptoms, is also spreading, according to state data. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/data-tables/420-316-SequencingAndVariantsReport.pdf (4/2/21)
State health leaders are pleading for people to stay home for spring break. COVID-19 cases are climbing, and this is not the time for Washingtonians to let down their guard. “Don’t travel unless it’s absolutely necessary,” said Dr. Scott Lindquist, acting state health officer. He said to stay home even if you are fully vaccinated. “I know that’s a hard message to send to folks who want to go on spring break. But truly, we are seeing cases in vaccinated people that are breakthrough, that have done just that, people who traveled to spring break, etc.” The state is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which state you should get tested for COVID-19 before you fly and when you get back. They want travelers to self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel, even if their test is negative. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/spring-break-travel (4/2/21)
"We are getting closer to knocking out the pandemic, but we are not there yet, and there are very concerning warning signs that we could be headed for a fourth major spike in infection. Our community has the lowest infection rate in King County, but all around us the numbers are rising" said Dr. Jim Bristow, Co-Coordinator of Vashon Medical Reserve Corps and leader of the island's COVID-19 testing effort. "For some weeks at the test site, a big percentage of our patients have been requesting testing so they can travel. It's easy to understand why, after more than a year of pandemic. Unfortunately, the number one source of infections for the past year has been people traveling off island and bringing the infection home with them. If we can hold out for another couple of months, many more people will be protected by vaccination and it will be much safer," he continued. His advice: stay home a bit longer, mask, distance, and wash hands to keep our community safe. (4/2/21)
Mask-wearing is essential in preventing the spread of COVID, said King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin. Adding “COVID-19 spreads through the air, and the risk is highest in crowded and indoor spaces with poor ventilation.” New data from King County from November to February found that 89% of county residents were following the state mandate and wearing a mask that covered their nose and mouth. One goal of the study was to identify any areas of lower mask usage to tailor messaging to those communities. Masking was highest in grocery stores and hardware stores (94-97%) and lower for people entering convenience stores and at transit centers (76-84%). Children were less likely than other age groups to be wearing masks. “Wearing a well-made and snug-fitting mask is one of our best tools against COVID-19.” Said Duchin. https://publichealthinsider.com/2021/02/09/its-a-good-time-to-improve-our-masks-and-how-we-wear-them-as-more-contagious-covid-19-variants-emerge/ (4/2/21)
Gov. Jay Inslee announced that everyone 16 and older who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible to receive one in Washington state, starting on April 15. The state’s phased eligibility approach was designed to ensure the most vulnerable people got vaccinated first, including older adults, those in long term care facilities, critical healthcare workers, and more. The expansion of eligibility comes, in response to a recent uptick in COVID cases in the state, and a forecast of increased vaccine allocations by the federal government. Currently, Pfizer-BioNTech is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for people 16 years of age and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for people 18 and older. Those age 16 or 17 may need consent from a parent or guardian to get the vaccine, unless they are legally emancipated. https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-vaccine-eligibility-expansion-all-adults-april-15 (4/2/21)
CDC has updated its travel recommendations for vaccinated travelers. International travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants. CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated. Even after you are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, you should continue to follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely, and get tested 3-5 days after travel. Vaccinated travelers do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it, and you do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States. Full recommendation at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html (4/2/21)
The Washington Department of Health has updated some of its Phase 3 business guidance. These updates include farm and agricultural workers, long-term care facilities, food workers and establishments (including outdoor farmer’s markets), and homeless shelters. For the full updates visit: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/ResourcesandRecommendations#business (4/2/21)
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is investigating reports of people in the state who tested positive for COVID-19 more than two weeks after being fully vaccinated. Scientists call these “vaccine breakthrough” cases, which are expected with any vaccine. “It is important to remember that every vaccine on the market right now prevents severe disease and death in most cases,” said Dr. Umair A. Shah, Secretary of Health. “People should still get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, and encourage friends, loved ones, and co-workers to do the same. Finding evidence of vaccine breakthrough cases reminds us that, even if you have been vaccinated, you still need to wear a mask, practice socially distancing, and wash your hands to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others who have not been vaccinated,” said Secretary Shah. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/Articles/ID/2720/Cases-of-COVID-19-vaccine-breakthrough-confirmed-in-Washington-state (4/2/21)
Cassie Sauer, president of the Washington State Hospital Association, says it’s important to protect those most at-risk, but that it’s also tough to ignore that rises in case counts can be traced back to younger populations not yet eligible for the vaccine. “The states that are seeing an uptick are seeing transmission fueled by people in that 25, 30, 35 age range — they’re not eligible but they’re spreading it,” she said. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/washington-hospital-leaders-not-opening-up-vaccine-eligibility-could-be-fueling-rise-cases/MO5U63LNZBDLLNNJC3QHAS2NS4/ (4/2/21)
Lives Well Lived, a new series by Vashon Heritage Museum (VHM) and Vashon Community Care (VCC), will host a talk entitled The Vashon Model: A Community-based Response to COVID, on Thursday April 8 at 7pm. Well-known island writer and radio personality Susan McCabe will moderate the discussion between doctors James Bristow, Ina Opplinger, Clayton Olney, and Jinna Risdal from Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, all of whom are key players in Vashon’s nationally-recognized response to the COVID pandemic. To register for the free Zoom event, go to http://bit.ly/liveswelllived (4/2/21)
Vashon Hwy SW CLOSED at Judd Creek Bridge (South of SW Quartermaster Drive) - April 5 until April 28. Starting as soon as 8 a.m. on Monday, April 5 through 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 28, both directions of Vashon Highway SW at Judd Creek between SW 227th Street and SW 225th Street (just south of SW Quartermaster Dr.) will be fully closed around the clock for Judd Creek Bridge repairs. Local access to homes and businesses north and south of the Judd Creek Bridge will be maintained throughout construction. A signed detour will direct through traffic off of Vashon Highway SW between SW Burton Drive and SW 204th Street. View the detour and get more information on the project website: http://Kingcounty.gov/JuddCreekBridge (4/2/21)
Special enrollment period for health insurance has again been extended through August 15 for people who are uninsured. Anyone who doesn’t have health insurance can buy a plan directly from an insurer or through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. If you buy a plan through the Exchange, you may qualify for federal help paying your premium; additional funding is now available to subsidize health coverage, even eliminating premium payments for some. https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/ (4/2/21)
If you lost your health insurance or had a reduction in income you may now qualify for the free Apple Health Insurance. Public Health - Seattle & King County is offering to assist people signing up for health insurance plans, including Apple Health, as well as SNAP (food stamps) and Orca Lift transit cards. Contact Miguel Urquiza directly at 206-491-3761 (cell) or 206-477-6965 or email miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov. Miguel speaks Spanish and helps Vashon residents access health-related resources.. (4/2/21)
Washington State DOH has released a report of COVID-19 outbreaks in Washington state K-12 schools. The report covers the period between Aug. 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021, where 134 COVID-19 outbreaks and 526 COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools were reported to DOH. For the full report visit https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/data-tables/420-312-K12SchoolsOutbreakReport.pdf (4/2/21)
Casa Bonita restaurant has closed for two weeks as a voluntary COVID safety measure and the staff are in voluntary quarantine and being tested. Two staff at the restaurant tested positive earlier this week. The Vashon Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the owner of the restaurant issued an appeal for members of the public who may have been exposed to call the MRC phone line to be screened for possible testing. Please only call if you were served inside the restaurant on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, March 25 through 27. You need not call if you were ordering or picking up to go orders unless you spent more than 15 minutes in the restaurant. The MRC number is: (844) 469-4554. So far, a total of 32 Vashon residents have been tested and only the two original cases have tested positive. (4/2/21)