Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Vaccines, COVID test kit outreach part of state funding
DAVENPORT — The Lincoln County Health Department has lined up about $197,000 in funds from the state Department of Health for local Senior Centers, Director Ed Dzedzy confirmed this week.
In return for the funds, the Health Department will use the Centers as outreach points for senior citizens to receive information about COVID-19 vaccination booster shots and test kits, Dzedzy said.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to reach seniors that weren’t able to get to their doctors or to Spokane or Moses Lake (during the height of the pandemic),” Dzedzy said.
The Department is looking at disbursing the funds between Senior Centers in Davenport, Odessa and Wilbur and the Senior Meals program run through the Reardan Presbyterian Church.
“We’re having conversations with them to find out what are their needs,” Dzedzy said. “What could they use that supports senior programs?”
Seniors are not required to receive a vaccination or COVID test to utilitize Senior Center services enhanced by the funding.
Funding for each Senior Center could be up to $40,000 each if the Department finds a need for that amount, Dzedzy said.
“Once we get this further down the line, we’ll work with our senior centers…to probably tie to their meal programs,” he said.
The deadline to receive and spend the money is coming quickly. Dollars must be spent by Friday, June 30.
The Lincoln County Commissioners approved a consolidated contract amendment with the Health Department to account for the funds at a regular meeting Monday, June 5.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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