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Washington will open Covid vaccinations to a new group of people on Wednesday.
The new phase will add high-risk workers in certain settings where there are large numbers of people: grocery stores, food processing and correctional facilities, fishing vessels and buses. It will also apply to people 16 and older who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe disease if they contract the virus.
The state had initially planned to bring in the new group on March 22, but moved up the date to March 17. Dr. Mark Johnson, an infectious disease physician at Confluence Health in Wenatchee, welcomed the move in a state hospital association briefing on Monday. He says demand for vaccinations among those who are eligible is declining.
Washington hospitals face nursing shortage as pandemic causes burnout among staff
Nurses statewide face long hours and heavy personal risks. Now some hospitals are finding it hard to fill nursing position vacancies. Author: Natalie Swaby Updated: 8:39 PM PST January 15, 2021
SEATTLE As the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remains high, the number of nurses is moving in the opposite direction. Hospitals say staffing shortages are having an impact.
COVID-19 s impact on nurses was a focus during Friday s state Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee meeting. Two nurses spoke candidly, telling lawmakers how the ongoing pandemic is leading to burnout and causing some nurses to leave their jobs.
Hospitals around the Northwest are busy vaccinating their highest-risk employees.
The Providence Health System in Spokane began that work last Friday. Spokeswoman Beth Hegde says inoculations will continue all week at Sacred Heart.
In western Washington, the CHI Franciscan Health System says it has vaccinated about 2,500 staff members since the middle of last week.
Some of the state’s smallest health care providers are relying on larger partners to protect their high-risk workers. In central Washington, for example, Confluence Health in Wenatchee is working with Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth.
“Confluence received the Pfizer vaccine and they have helped vaccinate 21 of our employees who are in the high-risk category. We feel really grateful for that, said Diane Blake, the CEO of Cascade Medical Center.