Undervaccinated WA Counties Could See COVID Surge

WASHINGTON — Thanks to relatively high vaccine rates, the Puget Sound region is largely protected against any potential future surges from the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The Delta variant is extremely contagious and is spreading quickly across the United States and much of the world. However, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines have been proven to be effective against the Delta strain.

That means places like King County, where 79.3 percent of people 16 and older have begun vaccination, remain mostly protected from the variant. Same with Snohomish County, where 68.4 percent of residents 16+ have taken at least one shot, and to a lesser degree Pierce County, which is at 57.9 percent.

Overall, 70 percent of Washingtonians 16 or older have initiated vaccination, giving them at least some protection against the Delta strain.

But undervaccinated portions of the country are experiencing a surge in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Baxter County, Arkansas — where less than a third of residents are vaccinated — is currently seeing a spike of its own.

"I started having flashbacks, like PTSD," Dr. Rebecca Martin, a pulmonologist at Baxter Regional Medical Center, told the New York Times. "This is going to sound very selfish but unfortunately it's true: The fact that people won't get vaccinated means I can't go home and see my kids for dinner."

Those spikes are having economic impacts as well. Stocks on Wall Street plunged Monday as investors fear how rising coronavirus cases could lead to more shutdowns worldwide, CNBC reports. The Dow dropped 2.4 percent, the S&P 500 fell 1.9 percent and the Nasdaq fell by 1.3 percent Monday.

These Washington counties are most at risk for another surge:

Garfield County: 32.3 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Stevens County: 32.7 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Pend Orielle County: 35.9 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Skamania County: 36.8 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Asotin County: 37.9 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.

Columbia County: 38.1 percent of residents 16 or older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine

Patch Staffer William Bornhoft contributed to this report.