What are your hours of operation?
Vaccination at the Skagit County Fairground is available by appointment ONLY and will be based on adequate supply. No walk-ups will be permitted.
Where is the vaccine clinic located?
Skagit County Fairgrounds, North Gate Entrance (1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273). Please, no walk-ups—vaccine is available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY—and dependent on supply.
*This map is subject to change
Who can receive a vaccine?
Vaccine is available, by appointment ONLY. No walk-ups will be permitted.
Appointments are currently limited to those who qualify under Phase 1a and Phase 1b-Tier 1. This includes the following:
- High risk workers in health care settings
- High risk first responders
- Residents and staff of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other community-based, congregate living settings where most individuals over 65 years of age are receiving care, supervision, or assistance.
- All other workers in health care settings
- All people 65 years and older
- People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households, including:
- People who are (a) over the age of 50 AND (b) are not able to live independently who either: a) are receiving long-term care from a paid or unpaid caregiver; or b) are living with someone who works outside the home
- People who are over the age of 50 AND are living with and caring for a grandchild
Priority phases are decided by the State. Information about how these priority phases were decided .
How do I find out my eligibility?
There are two ways to do this:
- Visit www.findmyphasewa.org; OR
- Call our Vaccine Hotline at (360) 416-1500: Monday – Saturday (not available 1/23/2021), from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you use the online Phase Finder link or call the hotline, expect to provide information like age, occupation, and living situation in order to determine your phase.
How do I make an appointment?
At this time, appointments at the Skagit County Fairgrounds are available only for Phase 1a and Phase 1b – Tier 1 individuals, dependent on supply. We will post any updates regarding phase eligibility on our website: www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine.
We will only be able to schedule additional clinics as we receive weekly confirmation of vaccine allocations from the state. Vaccine allocations will remain limited throughout the country for a few more weeks so please be patient, we will be able to operate consistently in the coming weeks.
Schedule an appointment HERE.
Appointment availability is based on vaccine supply.
Please call our vaccine hotline at (360) 416-1500 if you need assistance with registration. The hotline is available in English and Spanish, Monday – Saturday (not available 1/23/2021), from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We have been experiencing extremely high call volumes on the hotline. We ask that people be patient as we work to answer your calls.
Vaccine supply is still limited. Please know that it will take several weeks to complete Phase 1b, Tier 1.
What vaccine will be administered at this location?
Public Health receives vaccine allocations from the State, and it is possible that either the Moderna vaccine or Pfizer vaccine will be available at the Fairgrounds clinic depending on what is allotted. Please note: when registering for an appointment online using PrepMod, it will be noted which vaccine will be provided on that clinic date.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: The vaccine is authorized for emergency use in persons aged 16 years and older. This is a two-dose vaccine, given 21 days apart. Clinical trial data show the vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infection starting seven days after the second dose. Individuals will not be considered fully protected until one to two weeks after they receive the second dose. The clinical trials revealed no major unanticipated adverse events.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: This vaccine is authorized for emergency use in individuals aged 18 years and older. This is a two-dose vaccine, given 28 days apart. Clinical trial data shows the vaccine is about 94 percent effective after two doses. No serious safety concerns were found.
How much will a vaccine cost?
There are very minimal barriers to accessing a vaccine. The federal government is covering the cost of vaccine, making it no-cost for those with or without insurance. Some vaccine locations may invoice insurance for an administrative fee however this will not be the case at the Skagit County Fairgrounds.
How long does it take to get the vaccine?
Wait times will depend on how quickly we are able to serve people on any given day. You should allow for 1.5 hours in your schedule to go through the fairgrounds vaccine clinic although most people will complete the process in less time than this.
We ask that only those who have an appointment enter the clinic. However, people needing assistance are welcome to bring one adult with them inside the building. Children will not be allowed into the building and should be left at home or in the car with an adult.
What will I need to bring with me?
Those with an appointment at the Fairgrounds will be required to provide proof of eligibility when they arrive to the site. Visit www.findmyphasewa.org to receive proof of eligibility. If you are under 65 years old, please print or have a screen shot of phase approval that you can show when you check into the clinic.
For those receiving their second dose, please bring your Vaccine Card with you. This card will be given out when individuals receive their first dose, and will have your name, date of first dosage, and vaccine type given.
There are very minimal barriers to accessing a vaccine. The federal government is covering the cost of vaccine, making it no-cost for those with or without insurance. Some vaccine locations may invoice your insurance for an administrative fee however this will not be the case at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. When you come, you will not be expected to provide insurance information, or proof of residency. It is truly the goal of the County to provide vaccine to all those who want it, and who are currently eligible.
Will you have interpreters on site for non-English speaking individuals?
Yes, we have Spanish-speaking staff on site.
How many vaccines can be administered each day at this location?
The number of individuals who can be vaccinated will depend on allocations from the federal and state government. With adequate supply, Public Health’s capacity to vaccinate is approximately 300 people per day.
How long does Skagit County Public Health plan to provide community COVID-19 vaccination?
We will conduct vaccination at our site for as long as there is adequate supply, and as long as there is community need.
I don't live or work in Skagit County. Can I still get the vaccine here?
Vaccination at the Fairgrounds will be open to all phase-appropriate people who register, regardless of location of work or residence. However, individuals must plan to receive both doses from the same location.
A list of vaccine providers can be found here.
Most locations will require an appointment, and availability will be dependent on supply. Please call or visit a location’s website for more information.
What is Skagit County Public Health’s plan for vaccine roll-out?
Vaccine administration will occur in several phases, based on recommendations from WA Department of Health, the CDC, and the National Academy of Medicine and the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP). Below is Skagit County Public Health’s estimated roll-out timeline (subject to change; timeline is dependent on vaccine allocations from the State).
As vaccine becomes available, Skagit County will be able to work through the above phases. Please know that vaccine roll-out will take time. We appreciate your patience. We will know more about who will be vaccinated in later phases based on input and decisions made by the ACIP and the WA Department of Health. More information.
How long does Skagit County Public Health plan to provide community COVID-19 vaccination?
We will conduct vaccination at our site for as long as there is adequate supply, and as long as there is community need.
Why is a vaccine important?
Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. A COVID-19 vaccine will help to protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience serious illness.
Will it be safe?
The speed in which these vaccines have been developed and the newness of the technology can seem scary to some. It is important to understand that mRNA vaccine technology has been in development for over 10 years. Safety of the current mRNA vaccines approved or under approval review has in no way been compromised, even with a quicker development timeline.
Rather than eliminating steps from traditional development timelines, steps are being conducted simultaneously. Clinical trials include thousands of study participants to generate scientific data and other information for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This data is then analyzed to determine safety and effectiveness.
There are vaccine safety monitoring systems in place to track any possible side effects. If an unexpected adverse event is seen, experts quickly study it further to assess whether it is a true safety concern. Experts then decide whether changes are needed in vaccine recommendations.
How many doses will I need?
All but one of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States need two shots to be effective. The other COVID-19 vaccine uses one shot.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine, given 21 days apart. The Moderna vaccine is also a two-dose vaccine, given 28 days month apart. People should anticipate receiving both doses at the same location.
When will we be able to open things back up again?
There is not enough information currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide before making that decision. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.
Where can I get more information?
There is so much information right now about the COVID-19 vaccine, but there is also a lot of speculation and misinformation. It is so crucial that we seek out credible information! Please turn to trusted sources for health information, including your healthcare provider and public health experts.
Skagit County Public Health has created a COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, available in both English and Spanish. Staff will be able to assist you with general vaccine questions, and can provide information about priority phases, as well as vaccine locations.
Please call Public Health's main line at (360) 416-1500 Monday – Saturday (not available 1/23/2021), from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.to access the Hotline. Calls will be answered during regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm
For more about COVID-19 vaccine planning, development and safety standards, visit the Washington Department of Health website:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/vaccine.
Other helpful links:
