The City Council was told this week that Bainbridge Island is not getting enough COVID-19 vaccines.

“At this point with getting 100, 200 doses a week for the next year, we’re not going to be able to meet the needs of the community,” said Anne LeSage, the city’s Emergency Management coordinator. “Our residents are going to have to leave the island to go to Seattle, or go to Bremerton, or elsewhere. We have some real challenges as far as that’s concerned.”

She said they are hoping for more.

“We have actually submitted a petition to receive more allocation,” LeSage said. “We have the volunteer capacity; we have the logistical support to host some larger clinics. We really want to support the needs of the community.

Regarding testing, starting in February, the testing site at Town Square will only be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m., in efforts to focus volunteer time on vaccine rollout.

LeSage also said the testing demand has dropped in recent weeks compared to the end of 2020 from about 65-70 tests per day to about 50-55. She also noted that between Bainbridge and the rest of Kitsap County, there is somewhere to get tested every day of the week except Sundays.

As of Jan. 15, the city’s test site had administered 1,242 tests with only 14 positive for COVID; a less than 1 percent positivity rate. That data only reflects individuals who were tested at that site as the city doesn’t have access to other test providers on Bainbridge.

“That has been frustrating for some of our community members,” LeSage said.

Of the $50,000 the council approved for the testing site, only $22,000 has been spent to date.

“Really, the largest expense has been the tent rental to provide coverage for us,” LeSage said. “The rest of the supplies have not been as costly as we initially estimated.”

In terms of vaccine distribution, the city, along with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department and Bainbridge Prepares, has partnered to support the Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy. The fire department is committing staff time and funding for logistical support.

“I was really pleased to hear that the fire department stepped up and is helping us with vaccine distribution,” LeSage said. “It’s becoming very challenging for me to manage both (testing site, vaccine distribution) and we really do need that additional support.”

The schedule will vary week by week, depending on vaccine availability. Other vaccine providers on the island include Member Plus Family Health and Virginia Mason.