This area’s three local hospitals are gearing up to make sure all of their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as the virus case count continues upward.

PeaceHealth was the first hospital system with a presence in Skagit County (PeaceHealth United General) to announce on Aug. 3 that all of its employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The other two — Skagit Regional Health and Island Hospital — will also follow now that the governor included all health care workers in a similar pronouncement this week.