Joseph Thompson

A large waiting area for people after receiving their vaccinations at Angel of the Winds Arena on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘One in a million’ side effect halts Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Angel of the Winds Arena, a major site offering the JJ shot, has cancelled appointments.

A large waiting area for people after receiving their vaccinations at Angel of the Winds Arena on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
More than 155,000 Snohomish County residents have been fully vaccinated, while another 100,000 are awaiting their second dose, according to state data. Here, people get vaccinated at the Arlington Airport site on March 31. (Sue Misao / The Herald)

Snohomish County still in Phase 3; other counties backslide

Cowlitz, Pierce and Whitman counties will revert to Phase 2 after failing to meet key COVID-19 metrics.

More than 155,000 Snohomish County residents have been fully vaccinated, while another 100,000 are awaiting their second dose, according to state data. Here, people get vaccinated at the Arlington Airport site on March 31. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Stenczie Morgan with Maxim Healthcare Services sets up one of the four vaccination stations at the Angel of the Winds Area vaccination site on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County shows signs of losing ground on coronavirus

With cases rising, local leaders urge people to continue to mask up, even as vaccinations increase.

Stenczie Morgan with Maxim Healthcare Services sets up one of the four vaccination stations at the Angel of the Winds Area vaccination site on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Fans pass a bulldog statue, the team's mascot, on their way to the entrance at the McCarthey Athletic Center on the Gonzaga University campus before an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Southern in Spokane, Wash., Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Former Zags reflect on the Bulldogs’ historic tournament run

Herald writers Joseph Thompson and Ian Davis-Leonard talk about the anxiety of rooting for the Zags.

Fans pass a bulldog statue, the team's mascot, on their way to the entrance at the McCarthey Athletic Center on the Gonzaga University campus before an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Southern in Spokane, Wash., Monday, Dec. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Marysville firefighters Chris Burnette (left) and Chris Lytle (right) were part of the crew vaccinating people at the Arlington Airport on Wednesday. Marysville Fire District is part of the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce working to get communities vaccinated. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 210331

COVID hospitalizations on the rise in Snohomish County

Health experts are pleading with people to continue to mask up as the race to vaccinate continues.

Marysville firefighters Chris Burnette (left) and Chris Lytle (right) were part of the crew vaccinating people at the Arlington Airport on Wednesday. Marysville Fire District is part of the Snohomish County Vaccine Taskforce working to get communities vaccinated. (Sue Misao / The Herald) 210331
A syringe of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is shown Thursday, March 4, 2021, at a drive-up mass vaccination site in Puyallup, Wash., south of Seattle. Officials said they expected to deliver approximately 2500 second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the site Thursday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

COVID-19 cases rising again in Snohomish County

Meanwhile, another 30,000 county residents will become vaccine-eligible on Wednesday.

A syringe of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is shown Thursday, March 4, 2021, at a drive-up mass vaccination site in Puyallup, Wash., south of Seattle. Officials said they expected to deliver approximately 2500 second doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the site Thursday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Vaccination anxiety: Officials urge people wait their turn

Public health experts ask that younger Washingtonians be patient. And those remnant doses? Uncommon.

All Snohomish County residents could be vaccinated by August

The chief health officer’s estimate assumes the county can get 47,000 doses per week in coming months.

Brandy Wahlstrom, (right) owner-operator of That Chicken Place, along with her son, Zach Maychrak, work Saturday afternoon in Everett on March 14, 2020.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Federal loans have poured $1.8 billion into Snohomish County

The Paycheck Protection Program kept thousands of local businesses and entrepreneurs afloat.

Brandy Wahlstrom, (right) owner-operator of That Chicken Place, along with her son, Zach Maychrak, work Saturday afternoon in Everett on March 14, 2020.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

As vaccinations rise, COVID cases at nursing homes plummet

“It’s a welcome relief for everyone,” Dr. Chris Spitters said. And 15% of Snohomish County has been vaccinated.

Everett School District teachers and staff that have been vaccinated wait for 15 minutes in the gym at Evergreen Middle School before leaving on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

50,000 more in county are eligible for vaccine in Phase 1B2

Officials are shifting the focus to first-dose appointments as the state enters the next tier on Wednesday.

Everett School District teachers and staff that have been vaccinated wait for 15 minutes in the gym at Evergreen Middle School before leaving on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jessica Cain, right, answers a question about an assignment for Solyana Makele during her hybrid second grade class on Friday, March 12, 2021 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Governor: All schools statewide must reopen by end of April

Districts will be required to offer at least two days of on-campus instruction per week.

Jessica Cain, right, answers a question about an assignment for Solyana Makele during her hybrid second grade class on Friday, March 12, 2021 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Alaina Livingston, a 4th grade teacher at Silver Furs Elementary, receives her Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic for Everett School District teachers and staff at Evergreen Middle School on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

90% of incoming vaccines are reserved for second doses

That follows a statewide policy. Meanwhile, Snohomish County’s call center now offers a wait list for seniors.

Alaina Livingston, a 4th grade teacher at Silver Furs Elementary, receives her Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic for Everett School District teachers and staff at Evergreen Middle School on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jim Lawless

Chief Lawless resigns in Edmonds to take a job in Marysville

He had been with the department for more than 25 years, serving as interim chief since December 2019.

Jim Lawless
The Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is prepared for injection Friday at Angel of the Winds Arena. (Snohomish Health District) 20210305

New vaccination site opens at Angel of the Winds Arena

Meanwhile, supply is still an issue now that teachers and child care workers are seeking shots.

The Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is prepared for injection Friday at Angel of the Winds Arena. (Snohomish Health District) 20210305
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee speaks with special ed Pre-K teacher Michelle Ling in her classroom at Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, Wash. Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool)

Governor: Educators are now eligible for coronavirus vaccine

“This should give educators more confidence,” Jay Inslee said. Other frontline workers could soon be next.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee speaks with special ed Pre-K teacher Michelle Ling in her classroom at Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, Wash. Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times via AP, Pool)

Report shows vaccine inequities in Snohomish County

The county’s Hispanic population is getting doses at a third of the rate of white residents.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Inslee said some COVID-19 restrictions in Washington will be eased beginning next week and the state will change its reopening plan to move from a county-based oversight system to one focused on regions. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Inslee: All of Washington to stay in Phase 2 for a few weeks

The governor issued a weekslong pause on regions moving backward, but has yet to outline a Phase 3.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks at a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Inslee said some COVID-19 restrictions in Washington will be eased beginning next week and the state will change its reopening plan to move from a county-based oversight system to one focused on regions. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A pre-loaded syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine sits on the table for the next person in line during a vaccine clinic as South Pointe Assisted Living on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County to receive its largest shipment of vaccines

Even as case counts drop, researchers are finding a growing number of COVID variants in the state.

A pre-loaded syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine sits on the table for the next person in line during a vaccine clinic as South Pointe Assisted Living on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jackie Hoernor, a resident at South Pointe Assisted Living, winces as she gets her Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination during a Walgreen's Vaccine Clinic at South Pointe on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State health leader: We have a plan, we don’t have the supply

Two months after the COVID vaccine landed in Washington, many still struggle to secure their shots.

Jackie Hoernor, a resident at South Pointe Assisted Living, winces as she gets her Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination during a Walgreen's Vaccine Clinic at South Pointe on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)