Clinic and fire district to hold vaccination clinic Saturday, February 27

The first of what is hoped to be many vaccinations was administered on Friday, February 19 in a joint effort by the SuperTrack Point Roberts health clinic and the Point Roberts fire district. 

Speaking at the Point Roberts Circle of Care’s annual general meeting on February 21, fire chief Christopher Carleton said 73 people were vaccinated against Covid-19 using the Moderna vaccine. The first group was comprised of residents age 75 or over; all but 15 of that group have now received the first of two shots.

Carleton said he has received 650 responses to an online survey asking people to indicate their interest in getting vaccinated; approximately 40 of those did not supply valid contact information for follow up by the district.

Another 200 doses arrived on February 25 and the clinic and district were, as of press date, preparing to hold a vaccination clinic on Saturday, February 27. Carleton told the All Point Bulletin that it was important for people to answer their phones as the organizers were setting up appointments. After those individuals aged 75 and over are vaccinated, individuals aged 65 or older or those 50 or over living in multi-generational households are next in line to receive vaccinations according to the state’s priority list.

Carleton said the district would be sending out forms that people could fill in prior to their appointments in order to speed up the process.

Carleton urged people who haven’t contacted the district or do not have a computer or know of individuals in that situation to call or email the fire department to make sure that they are on the list to be contacted. Email chief Carleton at ccarleton@wcfd5.com and provide name, phone number, email and age in order to be added to the list. Those who haven’t sent in their name can still do so and will be contacted based on their age.

Everybody is being contacted directly by phone for each vaccination clinic based on their age. The number of doses received will determine the number of individuals contacted. 

People do need to have an appointment and will be given a specific time to arrive in order to avoid everyone arriving at once. People should come only at that time and be prepared to be patient. 

Everyone must wait at least 15 minutes and those who have a history of a severe reaction to a medication or vaccine will be asked to wait 30 minutes after their dose.  

The fire chief said that he intends to write Washington governor Jay Inslee to get permission to keep vaccinating as the district goes through the eligible groups. In any event, neither the health clinic nor the fire district intend to let any vaccine doses go to waste. 

Should they find that they have left over doses once all eligible individuals have received theirs, they intend to contact those next down on the list. This is an allowable practice in the state of Washington.

Carleton guesstimates that there are currently around 800-900 people living on the Point and is hoping to vaccinate everyone who wants to be protected as soon as possible.