(Mountlake Terrace – April 19, 2021) – The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Premera Blue Cross, QFC and Business Health Trust today announced a partnership to host a community vaccination clinic in Mountlake Terrace.
Located at the Premera Blue Cross office in Mountlake Terrace, the drive-thru clinic will provide more than 1,000 vaccine appointments on April 21 and 22. Organizers are working with more than 20 community partners serving populations who have faced historic and ongoing exclusion, as well as seniors, to support equitable access to these appointments.
“This effort’s special focus on vaccinating seniors and expanding vaccine equity means better health for all citizens in Mountlake Terrace,” said Erin Murray, Mountlake Terrace city councilmember and HR director at the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “Vaccinating 1,000 of the city’s 21,000 residents is certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating. In addition to that, it gives us hope that brighter days are ahead of us.”
The clinic, which is expected to deliver 500 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine per day, will be co-run by the partner businesses. While all residents ages 16 and older are now eligible for the vaccine, the Moderna vaccine is only approved for ages 18 and older.
“Equitable vaccine access within our local communities is an important extension of Premera Blue Cross’s business strategy of providing simple and easy access to health care,” said Jeff Roe, president & CEO of Premera Blue Cross. “As with our donation earlier this year to the All in WA Vaccine Equity Initiative, this drive-thru clinic makes tangible our company purpose to improve lives by making health care work better.”
Premera will provide the space, while Business Health Trust, the Chamber and QFC will provide staffing and operational support to run the new community vaccination center.
“We’re excited to announce our first drive-thru vaccination clinic site – it’s yet another example of the employer partnerships throughout our region that are putting us on track to Seattle Metro Chamberister 17,000 doses of vaccine in our communities by mid-May,” said Rachel Smith, President & CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “Our businesses are working hand-in-hand every day to respond to the biggest challenges in this pandemic, from helping their peers access federal financial relief to providing financial and in-kind support for vaccination sites in the community. These are the most important things we can be doing right now to ensure our regional economy can recover and thrive.”
“QFC is guided by our values and our promise to Feed the Human Spirit. We work to help people live healthier lives, and vaccinations are an integral part of that,” said Chris Albi, president of QFC. “QFC, Fred Meyer and Kroger Health will be donating all professional services at vaccination sites, these services include scheduling, Seattle Metro Chamberistering and observing the vaccinations.”
“As vaccine eligibility opens up more widely, we are thrilled to partner to bring more opportunities for individuals to get vaccinated,” said Business Health Trust’s Executive Director, Sarai Childs. “We have been partnering with businesses throughout Snohomish, King and Pierce counties to support Seattle Metro Chamberistration of more than 6,500 vaccines to date.”
All appointments have already been filled. The clinic will not be able to accommodate walk-ups.
CONTACTS:
- Premera Blue Cross – Elaine Helm; (425) 220-7932; elaine.helm@premera.com
- QFC- Tiffany Sanders: (425) 753-0633; tiffany.sanders@qfci.com
- Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce – Alicia Teel; aliciat@www.seattlechamber.com
SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT:
- Premera Blue Cross
- QFC
- Business Health Trust
- Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
- Alaska Airlines
- Advanced Professionals Insurance
- The Boeing Company
