The beginning of 2021 has proven that there are many challenges ahead of us as city, and as a country.? However, some events from this week?shown us that hope in on the horizon.
This week, we watched the historic Inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th?President and Kamala Harris as the First Woman and First African-American and South Asian-American Vice President of the United States.?Former President Trump damaged our?country and communities. But?now,?the country will begin to heal, as we welcome this historic and inspiring administration in Washington, D.C.
The hopeful implications of this moment cannot be overstated: we now have a federal partner working with us to restore our communities and ensure that America is working for everyone. As we finally mourn the lives lost, our national public health response to COVID-19 will be driven by science and not politics. Our economic recovery will bring real relief to workers, small businesses, and communities across the country, regardless of partisan persuasion. I look forward to having support from the federal government?as I continue to prioritize our City?s pandemic response and?recovery.???
I look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration?to bring true relief and opportunity to Seattle residents.?
One key area that will require a close?federal?partnership is?vaccinations.?Right now, vaccine supply is still?extremely?limited.?Many?of you?are?likely wondering how you fit into the state?s?vaccination timeline, as we work to make sure?at least 70% of our?Seattle residents and workers get vaccinated?in the coming months.?We encourage?everyone to?use?the state?s online tool?to find out when you?and your loved ones?qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine.? Phase Finder?will be updated as the state opens up for next phases.?For more information on vaccination phases, please visit?https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine.aspx.?
For the limited doses that the City has received this past, our Seattle Fire Department mobile teams have worked hard to deliver to our most vulnerable.?The City?also?launched?a?new in-language?website,?www.seattle.gov/vaccine, where Seattle residents can find information regarding the progress of the vaccination effort in Seattle and can sign up for weekly vaccination updates from the City.?As soon as supply?increases, we are prepared to launch additional efforts to distribute vaccines in our community.??
We have seen first?hand?that?our city can?lead the way on our COVID-19 response through testing, which just surpassed more than?575,000 tests at our four sites.?We could not have reached this milestone without?the?Seattle Fire Department, our parking enforcement officers, and logistics support?from city employees, and we can replicate this?effective?model?for?the equitable distribution of?vaccinations.??
For now, we will all need to continue wearing masks, practice?social distancing, and follow all public health guidance-even as we are vaccinating more Seattle residents and workers each day.??
The City of Seattle announced that?applications?for the Child Care Stabilization Fund?have?opened?for licensed child care providers, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers in Seattle. These grants are intended to support childcare providers though the economic hardship they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.???
?Our childcare and community caregivers have?made it possible?for?our firefighters, nurses, grocery store workers to continue their essential work?throughout this pandemic.?In the months to come, we must continue supporting?our?providers?and community members who?are supporting our kids and workers,? said Mayor Jenny Durkan.???
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan announced the next phase of the Seattle Fire Department Mobile Vaccination Teams (MVT), which involves a COVID-19 vaccination partnership with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 775 and focuses on older adults in supportive housing.?
To date, the City of Seattle has received 1,400 doses of the?Moderna?vaccine from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Following the completion of adult family homes, the two Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Mobile Vaccination Teams will begin to vaccinate home health care workers and Seattle?s most vulnerable older adults living in permanent supportive housing and affordable housing. This newest vaccination effort began January 21, 2021. In addition, the City launched a new in-language website,?www.seattle.gov/vaccine, where residents can find information regarding the progress of the vaccination effort in Seattle and can sign up for weekly vaccination updates from the City.?
Mayor Jenny Durkan issued the following statement on the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States.??
?Today?s inauguration is an inspiring historic moment for our country and a complete repudiation of the last four years. President Trump did enormous damage to our country, splintered our communities, and undermined almost every institution of our Democracy. But in the end, he did not and could not succeed in his goals. The promise of America is too enduring, and the flame of hope too bright.??
Seattle?s older adults living in supportive housing will be the next in line for vaccinations against the novel coronavirus offered by the City?s mobile vaccine clinics, the Office of the Mayor announced in a press release on Jan. 22. This newest mobile vaccination effort began on Jan. 21 and includes older adults who had formerly experienced homelessness and who now receive wraparound case management services, as well as older, low-income adults living in affordable housing.?
Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Chief Harold Scoggins and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan?announced?the creation of the mobile teams last week. Each team is staffed by an SFD emergency medical technician, who administers the vaccine, and two civilians, who record data. The teams were focused first on adults living and working in adult family homes, particularly those in Seattle?s South End. The goal was to vaccinate 1,000 people in the following two weeks, a goal the press release said the mobile teams are close to meeting.?
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