Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Commission on Aging is focusing this year on the road to recovery from COVID-19, especially for people 65 and older. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on older adults in Clark County, as around the world. According to the CDC, older adults are at greater risk of requiring hospitalization or dying if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. The pandemic raised concerns regarding the health and well-being of older adults, especially the community’s most vulnerable. What have we learned so that we are better prepared in the future?

Clark County Public Health continues to work through its COVID-19 vaccine referral list to connect eligible people with facilities that have vaccine. To date, Public Health has made more than 34,000 referrals for vaccination to local providers.

Clark County Community Services, with assistance from staff at Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) and the city of Vancouver, selected Catholic Community Services of Western Washington to operate a non-congregate shelter near Vancouver Mall for people who are unhoused. Catholic Community Services is an outreach of the Catholic Church that provides programs, shelters and services for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Western Washington.

Vancouver, Wash. – A new COVID-19 vaccination site is opening in the Tower Mall parking lot this week. The vaccination site will operate alongside the Tower Mall COVID-19 Community Testing Site, which opened in January. The vaccination site is a collaboration between Clark County Public Health, the city of Vancouver and Safeway.

Governor Inslee last month appointed Clark County Councilor Temple Lentz to the state’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Councilor Lentz represents the Washington Association of Counties-Western Washington.

Councilor Lentz’s term of appointment ends Jan. 26, 2025.

The board’s role is to address the state’s need for housing that is affordable to all economic segments and populations. Its main tasks include:

The Clark County Charter Review Commission will hold a workshop on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 5 pm.

The purpose of the workshop is to develop the commission’s work plan including the plan for public involvement and to identify topics to consider as potential charter amendments.

Clark County’s COVID-19 vaccine allocation is increasing substantially this week. Through 11 weeks, Clark County received an average of 4,175 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the Washington State Department of Health. The vaccine was distributed to health care facilities, pharmacies and community vaccination sites throughout the county.

The county manager is seeking applicants to fill two positions on the volunteer Community Action Advisory Board.

The Clark County Board of Health this week made the decision to update its current meeting schedule by adding an additional monthly meeting and extending the time scheduled for its regular meeting.

Effective immediately, Board of Health meetings will be as follows until further notice:

• 9-10 am on the second Wednesday of the month
• 8:30-10 am on the fourth Wednesday of the month

The additional meeting time is necessary to accommodate the time needed for COVID-19 updates and discussions.

Clark County is seeking applicants for three positions on its Commission on Aging. The commission manages and implements the county’s Aging Readiness Plan and fosters countywide awareness, dialogue and insight into challenges and opportunities for residents of all ages, incomes and abilities.

The terms would be three-years beginning June 1, 2021, and continuing through May 31, 2023. Residents living anywhere in Clark County may apply.