City of Seattle Partners with Seattle Visiting Nurse Association to Provide Free Vaccinations for Uninsured Neighbors 

Vaccinations available at more than a dozen locations across the City including five locations in high-density BIPOC neighborhoods in South and West Seattle 

Language Access will be provided at City of Seattle Genesee Park clinics 

Seattle (October 20, 2020) – Building on the City’s successful free COVID-19 testing, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced the City of Seattle is partnering with the Seattle Visiting Nurses Association (SVNA) to provide vaccinations in locations across Seattle. The City has used $150,000 in CARES Act funding to purchase 3,750 vaccinations to provide for uninsured residents, at no cost. Two City of Seattle sponsored flu clinics at Genesee Park will offer language access to accommodate individuals facing language barriers. You can find information on the locations and hours of the clinics here.  

“Seattle – we have led the way to wear masks, wash our hands, and get tested for COVID-19 when necessary. Now, we need to get our flu shots. In the midst of a global pandemic, this flu season is unlike any other. Flu vaccinations will save lives. This year getting your flu vaccination means you are not only protecting your community, but you are helping our health care professionals by keeping hospitalizations low, and maintaining the capacity to address serious illnesses, like COVID-19.  Thank you to our local employers, King County, and UW Medicine partners who have also launched employee vaccination drives to keep communities safe,” said Mayor Durkan. 

The City of Seattle is sponsoring two flu clinics that offer language access at Genesee Park, 4316 S Genesee St., 98118, from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, October 21 and Friday, October 31. For uninsured individual, the City–purchased vaccinations will be provided at no–cost at any SVNA sites within the City of Seattle. Those interested in vaccinations should pre-register at shedule.seattlevna.com. Please make sure to register for each person in your party who will receive a vaccination.

SVNA recently expanded to Seattle Public School locations, supplementing a longstanding location at North Seattle College. Clients can walk-up or drive-up for service. Vaccinations are free and clients will not be billed regardless of health insurance status. For those with insurance, your provider will be billed, because most insurance plans cover preventative services, you will not be charged a co-pay. For uninsured or under-insured clients, the City of Seattle’s will cover the cost.

“It’s especially important this year to get your flu vaccine. Now is a great time to do it, before flu activity begins,” said Patty Hayes, Director, Public Health – Seattle & King County. “By getting vaccinated, you’re more likely to avoid infection or reduce your flu symptoms. That’s also important for our community, by lowering demand for flu medical care, so doctors’ offices and hospitals are available for COVID-19 patients who need it.”

“Over the past five weeks, Seattle Visiting Nurse Association has provided 30,000 low-contact flu immunizations to patients in King County through our network of drive-through clinics. In the coming weeks, in partnership with Public Health – Seattle & King county, the City of Seattle, and Seattle Public Schools, we will be offering a series of clinics to vaccinate an additional 15,000 patients, specifically targeting the uninsured populations of our city,” said Jake Scherf, CEO, Seattle Visiting Nurse Association and 

“Last year, only 47% of the U.S. population got a flu shot, according to the latest CDC numbers available. We must do better this year to avoid a ‘twindemic’ of both COVID-19 and flu that could derail the ability of hospitals and clinics to provide care for all our patients,” said UW Medicine’s Dr. John Lynch, medical director, Infection Prevention & Control, Harborview Medical Center.

The City of Seattle employs nearly 12,000 employees, and last week, the City launched its flu vaccination programs. The dual-pronged effort will serve essential employees, who are required to show up at city worksites and also employees who have transitioned to regularly telework through the pandemic.