Coronavirus updates: Vaccines arrive in Washington state
This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Monday, Dec. 14.
Huskies out of Pac-12 championship game
Updated 3:45 p.m.
The University of Washington football team will not play USC in Friday’s Pac-12 championship game due to ongoing issues with COVID-19 in the Huskies’ program, the conference announced Monday.
Oregon, which had the second-best record in the Pac-12 North, will replace UW as the team that will face the Pac-12 South champion Trojans.
“This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy and Football Championship Game policy due to Washington neither having the minimum 53 scholarship student-athletes available for the game nor the minimum number of scholarship student-athletes at a position group, in each case as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols,” the conference’s statement says.
The decision comes days after UW had to cancel last week’s scheduled meeting with the Ducks, which would have decided the Pac-12 North champion.
“Our offensive line is completely gone,” Lake told reporters during a Zoom call Monday. “We cannot play and we cannot practice. … Our offensive line is completely unavailable until the following week. There is no way we could wait (and see) at all. We cannot play football. We couldn’t play football last week and we cannot play football this week.”
The Huskies could still play in a bowl game this season if they are able to return to the practice field. A return to practice and play requires two consecutive days of zero positive COVID-19 tests.
“Hopefully we have some negative results and we can get everybody back in this building,” Lake said. “Then we’d have more than seven days to prepare for a possible Dec. 29 bowl game. I feel very, very confident that we’ll be able to do that.”
First doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Seattle
Updated 3:30 p.m.
Washington State Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities and Catholic Health Care support COVID-19 vaccinations
Updated 2:30 p.m.
The Washington State Catholic Conference released a statement Saturday in support of COVID-19 vaccinations, affirming they are “morally permissible.”
“Together with the Catholic Health Care organizations and Catholic Charities of Washington state, we recommend the faithful get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves, loved ones, and the community,” the release says.
“Washington state was the first in the country to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outset of this health emergency, Catholic dioceses, Catholic Charities and Catholic Health Care organizations around the state focused on working together to faithfully carry out our Catholic spiritual, social and health care ministries.”
The Catholic Bishops of WSCC commit to furthering these efforts by promoting and encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations in collaboration with officials, advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations to ensure safe access and provide information to parishioners and the community “in support of morally acceptable, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines,” the release says.
“Some people have concerns about the safety of these vaccines due to the speed of their development and FDA approval,” the release says. “There is also concern about the risk of side effects. It is not uncommon to experience minor side effects from being vaccinated. People may feel temporarily uncomfortable, but the benefits from the vaccine exceed the burden. In addition, the speed at which vaccines have been developed maybe due to some degree, on utilizing past scientific advances against coronaviruses.
“The Washington Catholic dioceses, Catholic Charities and Catholic health systems will also continue to work with the Governor’s Office, the State Department of Health, and county and local public health agencies. Our collaboration commits to strong outreach to vulnerable populations such as farmworkers, frail and elderly, undocumented individuals and low-wage earners who seek guidance and assistance from our ministries.”
QFC, Fred Meyer to provide access to vaccine
Updated 1:30 p.m.
QFC and Fred Meyer announced Monday they will partner with the federal government and state health departments to provide access to the COVID-19 vaccine, including in Washington state.
“With pharmacies across the Pacific Northwest, QFC and Fred Meyer’s widespread presence in local communities gives them the unique ability to efficiently administer the vaccine to a large portion of the population,” the companies wrote in a release.
“At QFC and Fred Meyer we are committed to helping people live healthier lives,” Abdi Osman, the Director of Pharmacy, Health and Wellness at Fred Meyer, said in the release. “We have been diligent to do our part in the community to stop the spread of the virus.
“Affordable antibody testing is now available at all Fred Meyer and QFC pharmacies, and our team of healthcare professionals are actively preparing for the authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine. Fred Meyer stands with you to keep the Pacific Northwest and the surrounding communities healthy and safe.”
QFC and Fred Meyer have offered in-clinic, at-home and free drive-thru testing throughout the pandemic, and continue to offer free testing to their front-line associates.
Kroger, QFC and Fred Meyer’s parent company, is also offering rapid antibody testing to costumers in all of its pharmacies for $25, the release says. Results are typically ready in around 15 minutes.
Vaccines arrive in Washington
Updated 9:30 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health has announced that COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in the state and the first doses will be administered this week to high-risk health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities.
“This vaccine is a sign of hope that the pandemic is something we can overcome,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said in a release. “We still have a long way to go to beat COVID-19, but this is the tool that will start saving lives immediately.”
“We believe that if everything goes according to plan, we’ll have most people in Washington vaccinated by mid-summer,” said Michele Roberts, a leader of the vaccine planning group.
“The rapid development of these vaccines, with such a high rate of efficacy, is a historic achievement, and will help us defeat COVID-19.”
The vaccine, developed by Pfizer-BioNTech is given in two doses, 21 days apart the release says.
“Clinical trial data show the vaccine is 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection starting seven days after the second dose,” the release says. “Individuals will not be considered fully protected until one to two weeks after they receive the second dose. The clinical trials revealed no major unanticipated adverse events.”
The state expects to receive 62,400 doses this week, which will be distributed to 17 sites in 13 counties and administered to people in Phase 1A, which includes “high-risk workers in health care settings, high-risk first responders, and patients and staff of long-term care facilities.”
An estimated 500,000 people in Washington are eligible for Phase 1A.
“In this first phase of vaccination, we will only be sharing the names of counties receiving vaccine, and the number of doses each county will receive,” the release says. “As we expand to vaccinating broader groups in future phases, we will share details about where vaccine is located and let communities know how and where to get it.”
The state expects to receive about 222,000 doses by the end of December and regular weekly shipments should begin in January.
A second vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna has also submitted an application for approval, the release says, and if approved, the state could receive 183,800 doses by the end of the month.
More information on the plan for vaccinations in the state can be found on the health department’s website.
Vaccine could start arriving Monday, be administered by Tuesday, Inslee says
Updated 9 a.m.
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech could arrive in Washington state from the federal government Monday and begin to be administered by Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee said in a press conference Sunday morning.
Following the authorization of the vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a regional group of experts appointed by the governors of Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada have unanimously concluded the vaccine is “safe and efficacious.”
“We now are joining the powers and blessings of science with our own diligence, our own responsibility and our own commitment to take care of ourselves and our loved ones that we have been showing in the state of Washington,” Inslee said.
Statewide case totals reached 202,063 over the weekend, while there have been 2,879 virus-related deaths reported since the first case was confirmed in Washington in January.
During his press conference, Inslee said the vaccine “cannot come soon enough.”
The state is planning to receive about 62,000 doses of the vaccine in the initial allocation, and 222,000 in total by the end of December, according to health officials.
Initial doses are expected be administered to health care workers at high risk and staff and residents of long-term care facilities, according to previous McClatchy reports.
Michele Roberts, who is leading planning and distribution of the vaccine for the state Department of Health, said initial doses will be sent to 40 facilities in 29 counties, one pharmacy serving long-term care facilities across the state, two tribal nations and one “urban Indian health facility.”
Medical facilities are also identifying workers who are at the highest risk — such as those who routinely work with patients who have tested positive, Inslee said.
More facilities will receive vaccinations as additional allocations are sent to the state, Roberts said.
Inslee said he is “extremely confident” that residents can safely start to receive the vaccine, and State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy has also endorsed the FDA’s authorization and said she supports its use in Washington state.
“At this time, I believe without any reservations that the benefits of this vaccine far exceed any risks,” Lofy said.
Washington state passes 200K COVID-19 cases
Updated 9 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 2,328 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.
The department is no longer reporting deaths on weekends.
Statewide totals have reached 202,063 cases and 2,879 deaths, up from 199,735 cases Saturday.
The department cautioned that Sunday’s case counts could include up to 2,600 duplicates. Negative results dating back to Nov. 21 as well as positive results from Nov. 30-Dec. 6 are incomplete, the department’s website says.
“The Epidemiologic Curves tab is the most accurate representation of COVID activity and is updated daily as new cases are identified and duplicates are resolved,” the site says.
King County continues to report the state’s highest counts for cases (53,927) and deaths (912), while Spokane County has 21,361 cases and 276 deaths.
Pierce County reported 517 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing its totals to 21,084 cases and 259 deaths.
Each of the state’s 39 counties have reported positive cases and all but three have reported at least one virus-related death.
There are 1,394 cases that have not been assigned to a county.
There have been 3,347,903 tests conducted in the state with 6% coming back positive.
Pierce County reports 517 new COVID-19 cases
Updated 9 a.m.
Pierce County reported 517 new COVID-19 cases Sunday. No additional deaths were reported.
The county’s totals are now at 21,084 cases and 259 deaths since the first confirmed case was reported in March.
“More people are seeking testing at Pierce County’s mobile sites throughout the county and other testing locations,” the health department wrote on Twitter. “The sharp increase in recent testing volume can create delays in processing and reporting.”
The county has reported 4,825 cases in the past 14 days and its 14-day case rate per 1,000,000 is now 534.9. With a six-day data lag required in the state, the county’s case rate per 100,000 is 344.9.
Average cases per day in the past 14 days are at 344.6.
The health department continued to caution Sunday that daily counts could shift this weekend.
“Expect fluctuations in our daily case count reports over the weekend,” the department wrote. “We launched a new data management system, Leo, on Thursday. The 14-day average case count offers you the most reliable look at disease rate in our community until after the Leo launch.”
There are an estimated 8,544 confirmed cases still active in the county.
Testing is available at various sites in the county. More information on testing sites is available on the health department’s website.
Sunday’s geographic case totals for Pierce County are listed below with Saturday’s totals in parentheses:
▪ Bonney Lake: 580 (563)
▪ Central Pierce County: 1,027 (1,006)
▪ East Pierce County: 819 (797)
▪ Edgewood/Fife/Milton: 909 (899)
▪ Frederickson: 833 (806)
▪ Gig Harbor area: 704 (691)
▪ Graham: 700 (680)
▪ JBLM: No longer reported
▪ Key Peninsula: 200 (197)
▪ Lake Tapps/Sumner area: 754 (744)
▪ Lakewood: 1,727 (1,678)
▪ Parkland: 1,050 (1,005)
▪ Puyallup: 1,318 (1,292)
▪ South Hill: 1,223 (1,187)
▪ South Pierce County: 655 (642)
▪ Southwest Pierce County: 269 (264)
▪ Spanaway: 980 (954)
▪ Tacoma: 6,155 (6,006)
▪ University Place: 757 (738)
▪ Unknown: 424 (418)
Sara Gentzler and Lauren Kirschman contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 14, 2020 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: Vaccines arrive in Washington state."
