Microsoft’s Washington campus will become a COVID-19 vaccination site

Microsoft is partnering with Washington state hospitals to turn a building on its campus into a COVID-19 vaccination site in February, company president Brad Smith said Monday. With many of its employees working from home due to the pandemic, some of the company’s buildings are temporarily vacant.

“This is not going to be a site for Microsoft employees, this is going to be a site for people in the community,” Smith said in a livestreamed conference with Gov. Jay Inslee.

The software giant is one of several companies partnering with the state health department. It’ll also provide tech expertise and support to the vaccination teams, while coffee giant Starbucks will offer its expertise in operational efficiency, health care company Kaiser Permanente will help with planning and retailer Costco will aid in vaccine delivery.

The state, which has a population of around 7.6 million, hopes to vaccinate 45,000 people each day through this system.

“We are removing as many impediments as possible to Washingtonians getting vaccinated, we are going to deliver every dose that comes into our state,” Inslee said in the press conference.

Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for further comment.

First published on Jan. 19, 2021 at 8:06 a.m. PT.