Eilís O'Neill
Reporter
About
Eilís is a reporter covering health. She focuses on health inequities, substance use and addiction, infectious diseases, mental health, and reproductive and maternal health.
Eilís came to KUOW in 2016. Before that, she worked as a freelance reporter, first in South America, and then in New York City. Her work has aired on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, APM’s Marketplace, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, and other programs.
Eilís' work as part of a team covering Covid-19 outbreaks and vaccine hesitation in Washington won a regional Murrow award, as did a series about children who lost parents to Covid-19. Her series about the opioid crisis on the Olympic Peninsula won several regional Society for Professional Journalists awards as well as a national Public Media Journalists Association award.
Eilís grew up in Seattle and was a high school intern at KUOW, in the program that later became RadioActive. She has a Master's in Science, Health, and Environment Reporting from Columbia University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, Spanish
Pronouns: she/her
Stories
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People jump the vaccine line in Washington state, as hundreds of thousands can’t get appointments
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2K get Covid-19 vaccine at Amazon one-day clinic in Seattle
Amazon threw open the doors of one of its South Lake Union buildings Sunday in an effort to vaccinate about 2,000 people. The one-day vaccine blitz was the product of a partnership between the Seattle-based online retailer and Virginia Mason.
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Vaccine distribution frustrates Washingtonians. Officials urge patience
‘About one and a half million people in the state are now eligible. At that rate, it would take four months just to get everyone who's currently already eligible their first dose.’
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Give more people one dose of the coronavirus vaccine for now? Nope, Washington officials say
Think of one dose of the coronavirus vaccine as a mask protecting you against the disease. And then think of two doses as a hazmat suit — a turbocharge protection. Scientists are debating whether to vaccinate as many people as possible with the available vaccines — or make sure everyone gets their second dose on the prescribed schedule.
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'It's a different perspective:' How having Covid-19 himself changed this respiratory therapist
Federico Olivas is a respiratory therapist at the University of Washington Medical Center. He manages teams at Northwest and Montlake that treat Covid patients who need ventilators. His perspective on Covid changed when he got the disease himself this November.
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A rural tribe tried to keep Covid at bay, but a last hurrah seeded an outbreak
Since early March, the Colville tribal council has been doing their best to insulate their community in north-central Washington. But borders are fluid, so even the tribe’s extensive precautions haven’t been enough to fully protect Colville members.
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A tale of two pandemics: Covid rates vary wildly across King County
South King County Covid rates are up to 8 times higher than in north Seattle and Eastside.
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Voices of the pandemic: Making a career change when your job closes down
The pandemic has disrupted so many people’s lives. For some, that disruption gave them the opportunity to start down a new path. That’s what happened to Lauren Divine, who lives in West Seattle.
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Covid vaccines start next month in Washington state. Regular shipments start at new year
The first people in Washington state will likely start getting Covid vaccines next month.
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Thanksgiving plans squashed. Don't be a turkey, health experts say
The holidays are going to look different this year with all the Covid restrictions. We asked what people are planning, and what safe holidays could look like.