All I want for Christmas is my booster shot. Where to find it in Tri-Cities
Spread holiday joy, not COVID-19 this Christmas.
The Benton Franklin Health District is working to ensure residents know where to go to get tested, and get their vaccines and boosters ahead of holiday gatherings.
It’s easier than ever to stay safe this holiday season thanks to increased testing and vaccination availability, say local and national health officials.
Not only can Tri-City residents receive free vaccines, boosters and testing, they also can have at-home COVID-19 tests shipped to them for free.
Vaccines and Boosters
As news broke of the Omicron variant showing up in the Tri-Cities, Dr. Amy Person with the county health agency reiterated that the best protection is vaccination and boosters. She also stressed that it’s not too late to begin the vaccine process if you haven’t already.
Data from the state shows that Tri-Citians are still more hesitant to get the vaccine than much of the state.
Benton County is at 51.6% fully vaccinated, with 70.3% of people over 18 having received their first dose.
Franklin County is at 46.7% fully vaccinated, with 68.5% over 16 having received their first dose.
Statewide 62.4% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 81.1% have received a first dose.
Boosters are recommended 6 months after you’ve received your second dose for those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and 2 months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine.
“Most of the clinics that we have, provide all three (versions),” said Annie Goodwin, operations deputy chief for the health district. “We try to keep a list of where the pop-up clinics are on our website with the vaccine information.”
Upcoming pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 22, and Jan. 12 in Pasco. Both clinics will be held at the Pasco Schools Administration Building, 1215 W. Lewis St.
Wednesday’s clinic is noon to 4 p.m., and the Jan. 12 clinic at the same location is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other vaccination sites can be found online through the health district’s vaccine locator map. Residents should check the information for each location to determine cost and eligibility.
“Most of the pharmacies are continuing to offer (vaccines) on a regular basis,” Goodwin said. “Many doctor’s offices and clinics are also offering them ... all the time.”
Testing
There are dozens of places you can get tested for COVID-19 in the Tri-Cities area — many are free.
Goodwin said travelers should follow the tried-and-true methods of staying safe, including wearing masks, washing hands frequently, knowing the vaccine status of those around you, and practicing social distancing.
If someone suspects they are sick though, they should get tested.
“Even if you think it’s a cold or allergies, always get tested,” Goodwin said. “Know who you’re around, if everyone around you is vaccinated, your chances of getting sick are lower.”
The health district has two free testing sites, one in Richland and the other in Pasco.
The Richland site is a walk-up, at 975 George Washington Way. Get free testing at the site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Bring your insurance card if they have one, but no insurance is needed to be tested. Results can take up to 3 days.
Goodwin said that although the testing site is a tent, the site is heated and comfortable for healthcare workers and patients.
The Pasco testing site is a drive-through at 3110 W. Argent Rd. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, but will close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
As a general rule, the health district recommends you be tested for COVID-19 if have any symptoms, your doctor recommends testing, been exposed to or had close contact with someone who had the virus or feel like you need to be tested.
Free test kits
Tri-Citians also are eligible to receive free at-home testing kits.
Kits can be ordered at SayYesCovidHomeTest.org. All that’s needed is basic shipping information, and the tests will be sent to your home.
Goodwin said the health district also has partnered with the Mid-Columbia Libraries and other community members to help get testing kits for people who might not have a home address or internet access.
Anyone who cannot get tests shipped to an address should contact their local library branch for more information.
“We make sure everyone has access (to home testing kits) whether or not they have an address or internet access,” Goodwin said.
Omicron in Tri-Cities
Omicron is now the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the Pacific Northwest. While cases of the coronavirus have been declining since the Delta surge in th fall, the health district still recommends residents remain vigilant.
The Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday that nearly three-quarters of all new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are due to the Omicron variant.
That number jumps to 96.3% of new cases in the Pacific Northwest, the highest rate in the country, according to CDC data on variant prevalence available for new cases between Dec. 12 to 18.
The UW Medical Virology lab already is warning residents to prepare for a surge of cases due to holiday travel.
State and local cases
The most recent local data from the BFHD shows confirmed cases in the Tri-Cities have risen by 94 since Friday. Hospitalizations are up by 1, with 16 people being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals.
The health district will not update COVID-19 statistics between Dec. 23 and 26.
The Washington State Department of Health reported 1,462 new COVID-19 cases Monday and 21 deaths since Friday.
As of Monday, statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are 805,831 cases and 9,695 deaths. The case total includes 97,775 infections listed as probable. Death data is considered complete only through Dec. 3. DOH revises previous case and death counts daily.
For the past seven days, Washington has had a slightly upward trending case rate of 130 per 100,000 people.
The national rate for the same period was 279 per 100,000.
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 5:00 AM.