Editor,

Many of you may have read the recent press release from Island County Public Health with a statement from WhidbeyHealth announcing the cancellation of COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

What may not be obvious from the statement is that our hospital has had to cancel appointments three times now due to circumstances beyond its control, and for that matter beyond the control of Island County Public Health.

There have been mixed messages and mandates coming from Olympia since the start of Washington state’s vaccination program. When vaccine is available, Whidbey Island residents have been getting vaccinated via a superbly run program shepherded by WhidbeyHealth’s Chief Nursing Officer Erin Wooley.

Her efficient and safely run program should be a model for the rest of the state to follow. Unfortunately, she had to call many of our residents to inform them that their appointments have had to be canceled due to the mixed messaging about who is eligible for the vaccine, or due to promised vaccine supplies not arriving.

Please be patient with our hospital as it continues to provide our community with care aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and treating those that contract the virus.

Dr. Rob Johnson, M.D.

Chief of surgery

WhidbeyHealth