Governor Jay Inslee in Vancouver on Friday for feedback on government vaccination efforts

The governor also attended Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School in Vancouver and the Boys and Girls Club

VANCOUVER – Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited multiple locations in Vancouver on Friday, including Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School in the Vancouver School District, the Boys and Girls Club Youth and Youth Center, and Tower Mall’s COVID testing and vaccination facility .

Washington Governor Jay Inslee meets with elected officials and leaders of the BIPOC community on Friday during a visit to the Vaccination and COVID Testing Site in Tower Mall. Photo via KOIN-TV Live Stream

While at Roosevelt Elementary, Inslee visited a first and fifth grade classroom to see how students and staff handle personal tuition during the ongoing pandemic.

“A class I was in was half in class and half away teaching them at the same time,” said Inslee while speaking to press before he finished his time in Vancouver, USA. “This requires great talent and innovation. And it inspires me to be able to see that. “

The governor noted that many Clark County’s school districts are “a little ahead of the rest” when it comes to getting students back into the classroom.

“And people love it, so I’m sharing this information nationwide,” said Inslee. “And I hope others will do some of the other good things that are happening here in Clark County.”

Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited the classrooms at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School in Vancouver on Friday morning. Photo courtesy of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s office

Addressed to growing concerns about the long-term mental health effects of the pandemic on young people, Inslee said he hoped school districts across the state would provide in-depth funding for the provision of services in support of this area.

“We urge them to use some of these resources to help manage their students’ mental health problems,” said Inslee. “Through the school system and in connection with the mental health system.”

Inslee spoke about a conversation with a young woman at the Boys and Girls Club who had used the region’s psychiatric services during the pandemic.

“All of these systems need to work together,” he said, “but there are hundreds of millions of dollars going into districts to be used for some of these mental health needs, including more counselors, including more nurses.” into the building so that they can meet the psychological needs of our children. “

Washington Governor Jay Inslee visits the Tower Mall vaccination site in Vancouver on Friday. Photo courtesy of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s office

While the vaccination station in Tower Mall operates on doses administered through the Federal Pharmacy Program, Inslee was impressed with the efficiency of the operation, which is being carried out in partnership with the City of Vancouver, Clark County Public Health and Safeway Pharmacies.

There he met with elected city and county officials and members of the BIPOC (Black, Indiginous People of Color) communities to get feedback on how the state could vaccinate these populations faster.

Much of this conversation was about building trust by finding respected members of these communities to reach out to people who may be reluctant to get vaccinated, struggle with language barriers, or have limited access to technology or transportation.

“Talk to loved ones, please ask them to get vaccinated,” said Inslee, recently noting an increase in new cases across much of the state. “It’s safe and extremely effective. And it’s something that can save your life. “

Washington Governor Jay Inslee visits the Teen & Youth Center at the Boys and Girls Club in Vancouver on Friday. Photo courtesy of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s office

As of March 31, Washington was administering an average of 57,321 vaccine doses per day, well above the 45,000 target. A total of 3.5 million doses were given, with 29 percent of the state’s population receiving at least a first dose and 18 percent fully vaccinated.

The numbers are lower in Clark County. Currently, 24 percent of the county’s residents have received a first dose, while 14 percent are fully vaccinated.