Lincoln County seeks COVID vaccinations in Whitman County

DAVENPORT - Lincoln County's loss of COVID vaccinations was found in Whitman County.

Lincoln County Health Department Public Health Administrator Ed Dzedzy discussed what happened with Lincoln County commissioners Feb. 16.

Whitman County received thousands of doses of the Pfizer vaccine after multiple health providers requested them at once.

"The doses are shipped 1,000 at a time," Dzedzy said.

Because the Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at temperatures roughly -94 degrees Fahrenheit, Whitman County received too many doses to be able to handle.

"Whitman County had multiple providers order the Pfizer vaccines, (and) the state shipped them without understanding the impact," Dzedzy said.

The Lincoln County Health Department staff went to Pullman Feb. 16 to pick up 200 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and is planning to disburse them to the current prioritized populations of those 65 and older, or 50 and older living in a multigenerational household. It will occur in a mass vaccination clinic at Memorial Hall.

Dzedzy said his health department will continue to try and apply for first doses. They'll apply for 100 at the end of this week.

"If we get them, we'll probably give them to Odessa," he said.

The health department still doesn't know until the last minute whether they're receiving any new doses week-to-week.

"The state says they hope to get to a point where they can plan two weeks out," Dzedzy said. "I don't see that happening anytime soon."

A few residents have gone to Spokane and Grant counties in an attempt to get the shot as doses are withheld in Lincoln County. The counties are prioritizing their residents, but some Lincoln County locals have been successful in their efforts.

"We tell people, 'if you can get it done there, go right ahead,'" Dzedzy said.

Part of the reason the county has been unsuccessful in its attempts to receive new doses for nearly a month is the state is currently prioritizing booster, or second doses, which are typically received automatically.

The Moderna vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart, while the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart.

"Everybody's first dose allocation (application) has declined because the state is prioritizing second doses," Dzedzy said.

506 booster doses have been completed in Lincoln County, while 1,063 people have received their first shot for a total of 1,569 shots given between the health department and Lincoln and Odessa hospitals.

"We have to drive back to Pullman in three weeks for those booster doses," he said. "(Whitman County) has to order the doses and transfer (them)."

The state wants everyone to stay in the same vaccination phase and not have smaller counties move ahead past more urban areas, Dzedzy said. Right now, the state is in Phase 1B, which includes giving shots to those 65 and up, or those 50 and up living in a multi-generational household.

"We're being monitored by the state on this," he noted.

Some school staff has received the vaccine in Lincoln County as a result of this exception.

"Over 1,000 people are on the list at Lincoln Hospital," he said. "There's between 150 and 200 on Odessa's list ... but I'm not sure how many are 65 and older."