As Vaccination Rates Rise, Pierce Health Addresses Hesitancy

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department is hoping community advocacy will help keep the rising vaccination rate trending in the right direction.

According to TPCHD's latest vaccine update, last week the county averaged roughly 5,500 vaccine doses administered per day. That's met the county's self-imposed goal of 5,000 vaccines per day for nearly the first time all month.

It's undoubtably good news for local health leaders, who have long been struggling to get Pierce County's flagging vaccination rate up to par with the rest of the state. Now, they're hoping to capitalize on this upswing by having the community come together to address the remaining holdouts who have yet to begin vaccination.

Wednesday, the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department put out a call asking vaccinated residents to share their stories about why they took the COVID-19 vaccine. As TPCHD Health Promotion Technician Elodia Andres Cornelio explains, hearing from fellow community members may be all it takes to address vaccine hesitancy in some residents.

"You never know who is going to be the person to get through to someone on the fence about the vaccine," writes Andres Cornelio. "And it doesn’t even need to be anything as formal as a Health Department blog post. Just a conversation you have with your friends and loved ones can mean the difference between whether they get vaccinated or not."

Confronting vaccine hesitancy head-on will be important if the county is going to catch up with the rest of the state. As of the Washington State Department of Health's latest briefing Wednesday, 61 percent of all Washingtonians 16 and older have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Pierce County, less than 40 percent of the total population has started vaccination.

Gov. Jay Inslee has tied the state's reopening to the percentage of Washingtonians who have initiated vaccination, giving healthcare workers another reason to want to boost vaccination rates.

"If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 and want us all to get back to pre-pandemic living, be a trusted messenger for those around you who are still on the fence or waiting," writes Andres Cornelio. "Tell them your story. Tell them why you value and appreciate them. Point them in the direction of science and doctors and the Health Department."

If you're one of the people who has held out on getting the vaccine thus far, there are still plenty of opportunities to get your first dose now. TPCHD has announced dozens of upcoming vaccination clinics, most of which are now accepting walk-in patients with no appointment necessary. Many are even offering the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for maximum convenience.

A full list of their upcoming clinics can be found on their website. You can also use the state's vaccine locator tool to find a vaccine dose near you.

>> Read Andres Cornelio's full story on the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department's website.