Omicron brings more interest in booster shots, but finding an appointment can be tough

SEATTLE — The Omicron COVID variant is leading more people to ask for booster shots, but some are having trouble finding appointments.

Some people who live in Seattle are finding more availability outside the city.

On Tuesday, the Southeast Seattle Senior Center hosted a busy COVID vaccine clinic, full of people grateful to get a booster as the new variant takes hold.

“This does make me feel a little more protected to have this done now,” said Christina Wong.

“Scheduling was actually pretty difficult, I was a little bit surprised about that,” said Owen Huyn.

Before he found an appointment in Seattle, he thought he might have to go to Kitsap County.

“I was a little taken aback there wasn’t more preparation for this, they should have had some mass vaccination site. The demand was clearly there,” Huyn said.

UW Medicine reports a booster wait list with 10,000 people.

“We have seen a bit of a bump from Omicron over the weekend,” said Cynthia Dold, Associate Vice President for Clinical Operations at UW Medicine.

Dold expected people on the wait list to get a shot with seven to ten days.

She said a staffing crunch means there’s a limited number of vaccine appointments, and they must prioritize kids getting their first shots.

“We really need to prioritize those who haven’t received any vaccine at all, and then of course we try and then, of course, we try and pepper in any booster shots where we can,” Dold said.

Dold said booster appointments are available this week in Shoreline.

There are also opportunities in Lakewood, where the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department held a vaccine clinic Tuesday that allowed walk-ins.

“I was able to do a walk-in appointment and just get it done,” said Michael Ehl, who got his booster.

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