Gig Harbor pop-up vaccination clinic is already booked up; others will follow

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department says a drive-in vaccination clinic planned for this Saturday us already booked solid.

The clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30 at Chapel Hill Church, 7700 Skansie Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The hope is to provide 700 vaccinations.

People eligible for the vaccine are those in Phase 1-A and 1-B-1 (people 65 and over OR over 50 living in a multi-generational household). Pre-registration was required and was completely full within minutes of opening Thursday.

Laura Pettitt, Gig Harbor’s tourism and marketing director, said the social medial links for signups were posted at 9 a.m. Thursday, and all slots were filled by 9:19 a.m. Pettitt said other Gig Harbor clinics will be scheduled.

Gig Harbor police chief Kelly Busey, who is helping with arrangements, said the officials are asking he public not to call the Health Department for information, but rely an social media and the TPCHD web site.



In an email to media on Friday, Jan. 22, the department reported that it saw “a huge response” for signups for two Tacoma-area drive-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and that all spots for those are now full.

The first drive-in clinic was Tuesday, Jan. 16 at Clover Park Technical College, and another is set for Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Puyallup Fair grounds. Innoculations will be available by appointment only, and all appointment slots have been filled.

“We know demand is high for vaccine, but supplies remain limited,” the TPCHD said in an unsigned email. ”We’re working with partner agencies countywide to get vaccine to those of you who are eligible as quickly as it becomes available. Expect more pop up clinics like these.”

The pop-up clinics are a partnership of MultiCare Health System, Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

The state is using a phased eligibility system to distribute the vaccine, with the most vulnerable given priority. To check on your eligibility, go to https://form.findyourphasewa.org

Find a current list of locations where you can access vaccine at www.tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture.

St. Anthony seeks volunteers

As COVID vaccine efforts ramp up, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor is calling for volunteers to support the vaccine rollout to the community. In particular, they are seeking volunteers to support:

▪ Phone bank in downtown Tacoma — This role helps community members learn more about vaccine availability and how to get signed up when their phase is ready. Volunteers do not need any experience and will get specific scripting and support. The call center runs 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

▪ Clinic volunteers—This role will support the operations of hospital and community-based vaccine clinics, and there are both clinical and non-clinical opportunities available. The need will increase as vaccine supply becomes more available and more vaccination sites open in the coming weeks.

Volunteers should be able to commit a minimum of 20 hours over the course of three months. Volunteers do not need to be vaccinated.

Interested individuals can sign up to volunteer at https://www.chifranciscan.org/our-foundations/volunteer-services/covid-response-volunteer-application

This story was originally published January 23, 2021 at 12:55 PM.