Islanders Receive First COVID Vaccine in County

Contributed Photo/San Juan County. The first vaccine shots were administered on Dec. 30, 2020.

From San Juan County

San Juan County Health and Community Services staff provided the first COVID-19 vaccine to islanders on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

As per state and federal guidelines, initial distribution is limited to health care professionals, emergency responders, and long-term care facility staff and residents. This group is known as “Phase 1A.”

Contributed Photo/San Juan County.

This first clinic was held on San Juan Island, and more than 50 individuals received the vaccine.

The Health and Community Services team will move to Orcas for a clinic on the Dec. 31, and plans are underway for a Lopez clinic soon. Some Shaw Island first responders participated in the San Juan Island clinic.

Going forward, clinics will be held regularly on a rotating schedule until all “Phase 1A” individuals are vaccinated.

As guidelines for future phases are released by the Washington State Department of Health, and as vaccine supplies allow, additional groups of islanders will be eligible for the vaccine. The primary means of vaccine distribution in future phases will be via participating island medical providers and pharmacies.

For more details on specifics of the COVID-19 vaccine and San Juan County’s current plans for distribution, please review this recent FAQ, or this media release announcing the first arrival of the vaccine in the islands.

San Juan County has a web page devoted to COVID vaccine efforts, with links to other useful resources.

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