Kittitas County Public Health officials have given the green light to permit employees in nearly a dozen Central Washington University departments to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Employees in the affected departments all have regular contact with members of the public, which increases their chances for being exposed to someone carrying the virus.

“This is great news because a number of university employees have remained on the job during the pandemic because their jobs were considered essential to university operations,” noted Cherie Wilson, a member of the university COVID-19 Incident Management Team, which oversees the university’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Those eligible to schedule a vaccination include:
•    Brooks Library staff
•    Student Union and Recreation Center (including Wildcat Shop, Dining, Recreation and Student Union) staff
•    Facilities Management staff
•    ECLC (Daycare Center) staff
•    Testing Services staff
•    Health & Counseling staff
•    Housing
•    Registrar’s office staff
•    Cashier’s office staff
•    Business Services & Contracts staff
•    Surplus staff
•    Human Resources staff

Wilson added that on April 15, all Washingtonians 16 years and older will become eligible for vaccination.

Kittitas County will continue to use an appointment system and will continue to run county clinics. For more information about scheduling an appointment, go to the Kittitas County Public Health Department website.