FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2021         
          
Media Contact:          
Jennifer Moon, Public Information Officer
Whatcom County Health Department
(360) 820-6054
Health-PIO@co.whatcom.wa.us 
                

Whatcom County Health Department Releases New Video Highlighting Community Vaccine Providers

BELLINGHAM, WA -- The Whatcom County Health Department has released a new video highlighting the experience of three healthcare providers engaged in local COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In the video, they speak of their experience administering the vaccine, answering questions, and witnessing the joy and relief of those they have vaccinated.

Ruben Perez, a second-year nursing student at Bellingham Technical College, said, “I’ve seen tears of joy and relief--joy that there is something that is going to be able to protect them and relief that the pandemic is near to an end.”

“We had some people that would come in with a lot of questions,” said Katie Johnson, LPN, with PeaceHealth Medical Group Pediatrics. “I enjoyed those patients because I got to really help educate and share my knowledge with them and help ease their fears and concerns.”

Speaking about her own vaccination, Janet Hanna, Clinical Risk Management Nurse at Unity Care NW, said, “It’s like this burden was lifted that I didn’t even know I was carrying,” 

“We’d like to express our gratitude to all of those who have gotten shots in arms the past several months,” said Erika Lautenbach, director of the Whatcom County Health Department. “They’ve put in long hours and worked so very hard to protect our community.” 

As a result of their work and the work of so many others, Whatcom County is approaching the threshold of 70 percent of residents initiating vaccination. Case rates have declined in recent weeks as vaccination rates have risen. Variants remain a concern, and the Whatcom County Health Department continues to urge those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. Vaccine appointments are widely available, and multiple sites and pop-up clinics throughout the county now accept walk-in appointments.

The video, “The Fight Against COVID: Vaccination Administration in Whatcom County,” can be viewed on the Whatcom County YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqFrgcZ6sFY 

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