Radio Report: 20th District lawmakers ask governor why Lewis County is getting fewer COVID-19 vaccines than other counties

February 22, 2021

Lewis County is not receiving COVID-19 vaccination doses at the same rate as other counties. 20th District lawmakers say that's unacceptable and they want answers from the governor. John Sattgast reports.

SATTGAST: The numbers tell the story. Only 6.7 percent of Lewis County residents have initiated vaccination, compared with nearly double that statewide. Over the past three weeks, Lewis County has received only point-one percent of the statewide allocated vaccine doses. That's fewer doses than other counties in Washington.

Representatives Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt and Senator John Braun want to know why. The 20th District lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday asking for answers. This is Representative Abbarno.

ABBARNO: “It seems like there's a disconnect. The process isn't working and it's definitely not working fast enough. And the unilateral decision-making isn't working. And that clearly is not working fast enough. Senior citizens in our community, teachers, populations and marginalized communities are just not getting what they need, and this administration owes us some answers.”

SATTGAST: The 20th District lawmakers want the governor to provide a full accounting of vaccine doses received and distributed in Washington, an accounting of expected doses over the next six months, and the methodology used to decide where the vaccine goes and who receives it.

So far, no word from the governor's office other than an acknowledgment the letter was received. John Sattgast, the state Capitol.