FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2021

CONTACT:
Heather Thomas
425-508-4980
hthomas@snohd.org 

With doses at risk, Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce urges people to take their shot

After months of high demand, a sudden sharp downturn in booking appointments has put about 600 doses of Pfizer at risk of expiring.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Hundreds of doses of Pfizer vaccine are set to expire after Sunday, May 2. Anyone age 16 and older can reserve a dose now for Sunday at the Ash Way Park & Ride vaccination site in Lynnwood. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18.

Registration is available for drive-thru appointments at https://bit.ly/336V43q, and for walk-up appointments (arrival by transit or on foot) at https://bit.ly/3nHyojQ. 

People are encouraged to register online for their appointment. However, if they are unable to register in advance, on-site registration will be available. The site is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce began vaccinating people against COVID in early January. For nearly four months, the demand for vaccine far exceeded supply. Appointments filled consistently and quickly for the mass vaccination sites.

That changed abruptly in the last week. Like other counties and states, the taskforce has seen a sudden decrease in demand, even as supply is more consistent and appointments more readily available. Appointments during the week of April 19 still were filling. During the week of April 26, they were not.

When the vaccine taskforce noted the decrease in reservations for appointments at the beginning of the week, changes were made right away. Operations were modified to improve access to vaccine. This has included adding more weekend and evening availability, posting appointments a full week in advance, offering a second-dose catch-up clinic for anyone who is due, and scheduling the first of a new type of clinic known as a “flex clinic” that encourages appointments but also allows for day-of, on-site registration for people who do not have an appointment. 

With approximately 600 doses of Pfizer approaching expiration at the end of the day Sunday, the taskforce is now putting out a call for anyone who still needs a shot to get theirs. Many people waited their turn while eligibility requirements were in place and demand was higher than supply. Now, it is your turn. 

There also are thousands of vaccination appointments available in the coming week at mass vaccination sites in Snohomish County. Sites that have appointments available now for sign-up include:

• Ash Way Park & Ride
• Boom City
• Arlington Airport
• Boeing Everett Activity Center
• Edmonds College
• Evergreen State Fairgrounds Monroe

Registration is available for each of those sites at http://bit.ly/snocovaccine, or by calling 425-339-5278 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

MEDIA ACCESS: Please note that, to maintain patient privacy and keep operations running smoothly, media will not be allowed onto the Ash Way mass vaccination site on Sunday, May 2. However, media may be on a public right-of-way near the site to film live shots or b-roll. Please do not capture patient faces or license plates without permission from the patient. Staff will not provide interviews at the site.