These past few weeks, we have be working hard to get our communities here in Seattle?vaccinated against COVID-19.??
This week, along with?Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and City and community leaders, I was able to?announce that?67 percent of eligible Seattleites have begun their vaccination progress, and the City has vaccinated more than 100,000 people as a provider. These are incredible milestones, and if we continue this effort, we?ll reach a level of community protection where so many of us ? particularly our most vulnerable ? will be protected from the most serious effects of this virus.?
Mayor Durkan speaks at the vaccination site in Rainier Beach
We are continuing to lead the nation in our COVID-19 pandemic response- Compared to all major American cities, only San Francisco has made quicker progress in vaccinating its eligible residents and workers.
We have reached a turning point in our vaccination efforts: Now anyone who wants a vaccination in Seattle and King County can get one.??
If you haven?t already been vaccinated, and you live or work in King County,?sign up?for a vaccination appointment today at any of the four City-affiliated sites at Lumen Field, North Seattle, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle.???
Vaccines save lives - you can go to?seattle.gov/vaccine?to book today.??The website?also?contains vaccination information in seven languages, and in-language assistance is also available over the phone.?
If you have already been vaccinated, be a good neighbor and help your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers get vaccinated by sharing these links throughout your communities.?If you have any questions, the City encourages you to review our??What to Expect? website.???
Even as more people are vaccinated, we still have to remain cautious. More variants are in our community, and more and more people are getting infected.?Our cases are rising.?It is still important to follow all public health?guidance.?Remember to do your part, and mask up,?practice physical distancing, and make an appointment to get your vaccine.?
Mayor Durkan with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
The Mayor continues to prioritize the?Duwamish Valley Action Plan, setting forth a series of actions and strategies to expand economic opportunity, make environment progress and increase investments in the South Park and Georgetown communities. This week, Mayor Durkan joined the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition to discuss our continued partnership and community led solutions at we all strive for environmental justice and clean water.?
The plan is the result of an 18-month process that engaged City staff, residents, workers, and businesses of the Duwamish Valley to create a framework that reflects their priorities. The plan will be used to guide the City?s work and investments for years to come.?
This week, the Seattle Office of Economic Development?announced?that the City has awarded over $10 million in Small Business Stabilization Fund grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19?
Following this announcement, Mayor Durkan?joined Office of Economic Development Deputy Director Tina?Inay?in Columbia City to hear directly from some of the business owners who received a small business stabilization fund?over the past year.?The Small Business Stabilization Fund was established in March 2020 and to date, nearly 1,500 small businesses and economic opportunity nonprofits have received over $10 million in funding?
Effective Immediately, King County Residents or Workers Who Received Their First Vaccination from Another Provider Can Get Their Second Dose Through the City of Seattle?
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today that the City of Seattle will start?scheduling second dose only appointments?at the Lumen Field Event Center, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle vaccination sites. Previously, the City was only vaccinating people who had not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine. Effectively immediately, the City will begin vaccinating people who live or work in King County and received their first dose from another vaccine provider.?
Those Already Vaccinated Should Help Those in Their Networks Access Available Vaccination Appointments?
If Demand Remains High and All Appointments Are Taken, Seattle Could Lead the Nation and Reach Community Immunity By End of May?
Seattle Sounders players at Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders FC today announced that the club has reached an important milestone, with all First Team players and support staff now being considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, all vaccine-eligible players for the club?s Tacoma Defiance roster and associated support staff are fully vaccinated. As part of the organization?s dedication to public health and vaccination efforts statewide, it is also partnering with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and the City of Seattle, with assistance from Lumen Field and First & Goal Inc., to offer vaccinations to all eligible fans at home games, beginning this Sunday evening as the Rave Green take on the LA Galaxy.?
Registration for the grant begins April 30. The Seattle Office of Economic Development?will offer technical assistance?for businesses.?
The U.S. Small Business Administration will open the application portal for the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) on Monday, May 3, 2021, at 9 a.m. PDT. Eligible applicants should register for an account in advance at?restaurants.sba.gov?starting this Friday, April 30, 2021. Once businesses register for an account, they will be able to complete their application by uploading the required documents to the application portal on May 3. Eligible businesses are eligible for up to $5 million in funding per location, not to exceed $10 million total for the applicant and affiliated businesses. The Office of Economic Development (OED) encourages all eligible applicants to submit applications as soon as the portal opens and will be providing technical assistance for business owners, including bilingual assistance in multiple languages. Additionally, the SBA Seattle District Office will host an information session on Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m. PDT. You can register for this information session?here?or watch a previously recorded session?here.?
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Mayor Durkan with US Health and Human Services Sec. Xavier Becerra at the Lumen Field and Event Center vaccination site
Seattle continues to push resources into its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with Mayor Jenny Durkan speaking Thursday to provide an update on the city?s progress.?
Durkan had previously set a goal for Seattle to become the first U.S. city to vaccinate 70% of its eligible adults. As of Thursday, Seattle has been making headway, with just one other city ? San Francisco ? pacing ahead of it.?
?When we opened our facilities, I said I wanted to be the first city in American to be fully vaccinated,? she said. ?We are so close.??
As of Thursday, over 60% of eligible adults in Seattle have received at least one dose. The city also has over 14,000 available vaccine appointments combined across the Lumen Field Event Center, vaccination hubs in Rainier Beach and West Seattle, and an additional drive-through hub in North Seattle.?
?We?re going to get innovative and creative,? Durkan said. ?We?re going to try something new ? if you?re going to the Sounders game and you haven?t been vaccinated, we?re going to have walk-up vaccinations.??
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