![]() William Moss, at Johns Hopkins University's School of Public Health, researches how to design vaccination campaigns. ![]() Later, the Archdiocese of Seattle said that Etienne received the dose because he anoints the sick in hospitals, and therefore is considered a worker in a health care setting.ĭr. "I'm actually kind of a PR ploy on this one, as the Archbishop, to get my own vaccination and encourage other people to do the same," he said, "not only for our own health, but for the common good of the broader community." At the time, only workers in health care settings and nursing home residents and staff were eligible for the vaccine. In some cases, the ambiguity of the categories has led to questions about who may or may not be eligible.Īrchbishop of Seattle, Paul Etienne, 61, for example, got his first dose at the Swedish clinic on Seattle University's campus. Massachusetts, for example, requires all vaccine providers to collect a form that people have to sign to certify that they're eligible "under the penalties of perjury." That form is available in 11 languages on the Massachusetts government's website. Some states have a more centralized approach. "They are irate, and difficult for staff to deal with." "We can look them up usually in several systems to see if they're eligible or not - but, if they're not, it's a very bad conversation," Kibby said. They give out about 100 vaccines a week.Īdministrator Rosalinda Kibby said that when people come in for their vaccine appointments, they get a few more questions than at Overlake. The Columbia Basin Hospital in central Washington has a different procedure. "It would really be difficult for every hospital to take it to the nth level to see if somebody really answered every question honestly. "We do everything we can do to communicate to people: Please, schedule only if you're eligible," DeBord said. But the vast majority who are coming in do appear to be meeting the eligibility criteria."Īt Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Tom DeBord, chief operating officer said they administer thousands of vaccines every week. We know that some people will not be honest they will be line jumpers, so to speak. "We do want to get as many vaccines out as possible. "We shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here," he said. ![]() Jeff Duchin, King County's public health officer.ĭuchin said Washington state is giving out vaccines on an honor system because it's too hard to make sure that every single person who gets a vaccine is eligible for one. "I have heard and seen stories from many people who do not meet eligibility criteria, who've been vaccinated," said Dr. When you sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in Washington, it's up to you to tell the truth about your situation. Technical issues aren't the only reason people are getting the vaccine before it's their turn. Robinette wouldn't say how many of the thousands of people Virginia Mason has given shots to were affected. Gale Robinette, a spokesperson for Virginia Mason, said a technical glitch resulted in Baruso and others getting appointments, even though they had told the hospital system they weren't eligible yet. Like Baruso, they may have been confused about why they were offered appointments after checking "other." To be sure, not everyone is cutting the line intentionally. But, in some cases, younger people, and people who work in professions not yet eligible, have received vaccine appointments. Right now in the state, workers in health care settings, nursing home residents and staff, first responders, people 65 or older, and people 50 or older who live in multi-generational homes are eligible for the vaccine. It would really be difficult for every hospital to take it to the nth level to see if somebody really answered every question honestly. This happens because each provider must come up with its own process for checking eligibility, and most rely on the honor system. The Washington state department of health told us they aren't keeping track of who's eligible and who's not among those vaccinated, but anecdotal evidence suggests ineligible people are getting vaccines at many clinics across the state. "I don't know how that happened."īaruso wasn't the only person who somehow managed to jump the line that day many others told us they didn't fit into one of the state's current eligibility categories. "Then I got an email confirmation," he said. That was the option for people who were not currently eligible but wanted to join the waitlist anyway. "I hit the 'other' on the form," he said. When asked what made him eligible to get the vaccine, he replied that he actually wasn't. At a recent mass vaccination clinic run by Virginia Mason Health System in Seattle, Steve Baruso, 57, sat in a chair, recovering after getting his shot.
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