Health Officials Bracing for Surge in COVID-19 Vaccine Demand Starting Thursday

The COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Town Toyota Center (TTC) is bracing for a surge in vaccine demand when all Washingtonians 16 and older become eligible Thursday.

Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator Luke Davies said that although they aren't receiving enough vaccines currently to meet capacity, the region's total capacity for vaccinations is around 12,500 doses per week and could be as high 17,500 with extra support. Come Thursday, there will be about 50,000 people in the area who have not received at least one dose.

"Chelan-Douglas Health District specifically has one of the highest rates of vaccine coverage and we want to keep it that way." explained Davies, "So we are asking that everybody on Thursday … try to register to get vaccinated so that we can keep our coverage to get that herd immunity to protect against the current variants we have here."

16 and 17-year-olds looking to get vaccinated must provide a parental consent form when they visit the TTC. It is suggested they also have a parent or guardian present for good measure.