BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Whatcom County Health Department is explaining why almost no first doses of COVID-19 vaccines arrived here this week.
Communicable Disease Manager Cindy Hollinsworth says the governor ordered 95% of vaccines to be used in the first week that agencies received them, adding that second doses were used for first doses and because of that, the state Department of Health has prioritized second doses this week.
She told a news conference Wednesday that the Presidents Day holiday also slowed deliveries.
And she says planning continues for a mass vaccination program in the county when there’s enough supply.
Some local pharmacy chains have also received doses through the federal program and Hollinsworth says they’re following the same eligibility requirements as the state program.