In-Home Vaccination Appointments Launch In King County

KING COUNTY, WA — A new King County vaccination program offers in-home appointment opportunities to all people 16 and older who face difficulties leaving their homes due to injuries, disabilities, or medical conditions.

The program, unveiled Monday by Public Health - Seattle & King County, allows eligible residents, caregivers or family members to call and schedule a home visit from one of the county's mobile vaccination teams. The teams are staffed by local fire departments and have been deployed for months, administering vaccines at congregate living facilities, shelters and other places where people face barriers in accessing vaccine appointments.

Now, anyone who fulfills a short list of requirements can reach out directly to schedule a private visit.

To qualify for an in-home vaccination appointment, patients must:

• Be 16 or older.
• Have not yet been vaccinated.
• Have an injury, developmental disability, or medical condition that makes it difficult to leave the home.
• Would require considerable and taxing effort to get vaccinated outside the home.

To schedule a home visit, residents can contact King County's COVID-19 call center any day of the week, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., at 206-477-3977. The call-taker will ask a few questions to confirm eligibility and confirm verbal consent.

If the appointment is approved, the mobile vaccination team will call back to schedule a time, and confirm whether interpretation services will be needed. During scheduling, the vaccination team can also offer additional doses to vaccinate other adults in the household.

Due to increased demand, the county said some appointments may take several weeks to schedule. Residents who are Kaiser Permanente patients can also reach out to the hospital's member services line at 1-888-901-4636.

On the day of the appointment, residents can expect a small team or two or three people. The vaccine can be given wherever is most comfortable, including bedrooms. The team will stick around for at least 15 minutes after the shot to monitor for rare allergic reactions or side effects.

The county recommends three steps to prepare for a visit:

• Make sure that everyone in your home wears a mask unless they are unable to for health reasons.
• When possible, practice social distancing. If you are not receiving the vaccine, stay 6 feet apart from members of the vaccination team.
• Keep pets out of the area where the vaccination takes place.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about home visits here.

For people who are able to leave the house for an appointment, there are several options for finding a slot through mass vaccination sites, clinics, hospitals and other partnerships. On Tuesday, King County also announced a large batch of new appointments available for south King County residents in Auburn and Kent.