SPOKANE, Washington – A COVID vaccination site opens at Spokane Arena on Wednesday – here’s everything you need to know about planning your appointment to get the vaccine.
To get a dose of the vaccine, you must first make an appointment by scheduling one online through the Spokane Regional Health District website.
Online appointments open Wednesday at 9 a.m. and can also be scheduled on CHAS.org. There are no boarding or waiting lists.
The reason for this is that healthcare providers are looking for the number of people on the premises at a safe level, according to the COVID-19 guidelines. It also enables them to prepare the appropriate amount of vaccine so that it does not spill.
CHAS will look for identification when you arrive for your appointment, as the Spokane Arena is only a vaccination site for Washington residents.
Currently, the only one eligible for the vaccine in Spokane County is:
- High-risk health workers in health care institutions
- First responders with high risk
- Residents and staff for long-term care facilities
- All other employees at risk in healthcare institutions
- All persons 65 years or older
- All people 50 years or older in multigenerational households
The vaccination center at the arena is open seven days a week from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday-Friday and 09:00 to 15:00 on weekends.
You can find out if you qualify by visiting the PhaseFinder website of the Department of Health.
CHAS has about 3,000 vaccination doses available until next Tuesday and plans to vaccinate about 500 people a day. CHAS is hopeful that the vaccines will soon be bigger.
Some people called us and emailed us saying that the vaccination site is for CHAS patients only, but that is not true. CHAS is only vaccinating its patients for the time being, but as of Wednesday, vaccinations are open to the public.
You are encouraged to call your own provider first to see if appointments are available, but if not, you can call CHAS to schedule an appointment at the Spokane Arena.
The online registration will ask you to provide insurance information if you are covered, but if not, CHAS will still accept you for an appointment.
Finally, if you can not drive to the Arena yourself, there are other options available:
- Bus: The Spokane Transit website contains information on regular bus routes
- Paratransit: Transportation to the Arena Clinic will be available through Paratransit services offered by Spokane Transit. Door-to-door service is available to anyone 60 years or older with proof of ID. It’s no charge for those with a Paratransit bus ticket; those who do not have a ticket will be charged $ 2 each trip or $ 4 return (cash only) Call 509-328-1552 to plan a trip, preferably one day out.
RELATED: Questions: What to know about the new vaccine distribution site in the Spokane Arena
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