Meet David Burch. David is an ACCESS operator for Kitsap Transit, who has worked for the company for six and a half years and has lived in the area since 1988. One of his roles is to transport community members from their homes to COVID-19 vaccination sites around the county. We recently caught up with him during a stop at Kitsap Transit’s Gateway Center in West Bremerton.
The Gateway Center became an additional location for COVID-19 vaccinations in January. The site, which is operated by Peninsula Community Health Services, is one of several vaccination locations throughout the county (for a list of locations, visit online.)
“It’s definitely a good opportunity for the people in Kitsap,” David said of Kitsap Transit’s offer to use their site for additional vaccination site. “It will help get more people vaccinated in a short amount of time. We all need something positive after a year of the pandemic.”
David is happy to have a part in the hope to end the pandemic.
“It’s really rewarding to do this job and help get people where they need to go,” he said. “My favorite part of all of this [taking Kitsap residents to vaccination clinics] is to hopefully help put an end to this pandemic. It makes me thrilled to be a part of this. It’s been a long year and been stressful for everyone.”
As ACCESS bus drivers are deemed essential workers, Kitsap Public Health District prioritized bus drivers to receive the vaccination because they transport elderly passengers. David has already received his first COVID-19 vaccination.
“My parents are 93 and 98,” he explained. “It was important for me to get my first vaccination. I’m relieved. In two weeks, I’ll get the second vaccination and I’ll feel even better then.”
One thing David isn’t worried about is the safety of Kitsap Transit’s transportation services, especially ACCESS services.
“Kitsap Transit has made me confident in the sanitation of the busses,” he explained. “We are using very good antiviral cleaning products. We feel confident and the system is working.”
For those interested in using Kitsap Transit’s ACCESS services for transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites, please visit online.
