All Washington adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine April 15, Gov. Inslee says
All Washington state residents ages 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine on April 15, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday.
The state will stay in its current phase of eligibility until that date, according to Inslee’s office. About 5 million Washington residents are eligible now, according to the governor, and the April 15 expansion will add a little more than 1 million.
The governor announced the shift in the state’s timeline at a virtual press conference Wednesday afternoon. Previously, he had suggested it was unlikely the state would open up eligibility to all adults substantially ahead of the May 1 deadline set by President Joe Biden.
“We are confident we can take this step because our dosage allocations have increased, and we’ve now had roughly 3.3 million doses that have been administered in our state and more than 1 million Washingtonians are fully vaccinated,” Inslee said.
The federal government has said vaccine allocations will continue to increase, Inslee said, both through the state and through its own channels, such as the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
Inslee also referenced a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
After a drop in case rates in the beginning of 2021, rates plateaued but have recently started climbing in many areas, state Department of Health data show. Earlier this month, state and local health officials expressed concerns about a possible fourth wave of the virus, even as vaccines are being administered, because of COVID-19 variants.
Federal health officials are concerned, too, with travel increasing and some states abandoning public health precautions as the B.1.1.7 variant strain spreads.
Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah emphasized that people need to protect themselves as they celebrate Spring Break, the ongoing college basketball tournaments, and holidays such as Easter, Passover, and Ramadan.
“I just want to remind everyone to be emotionally together, but physically apart,” Shah said.
Over 16 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, and over 27 percent have gotten at least one dose, according to the state Department of Health.
Statistics are more impressive for those age 65 and older, who have been eligible since mid-January. Nearly 73 percent of residents in that age group had received at least one dose as of March 27, and nearly 54 percent were fully vaccinated.
But Inslee and Shah voiced worry about the thousands of residents in that age group that have yet to get their shots.
“These are folks who’ve had now three full months to obtain the vaccine but still have not been interested in getting the vaccine,” Inslee said. “This is really disturbing to us, because we know this vaccine is extremely successful, this remains a fatal disease,” and the state has seen an uptick in cases.
He called their situation a “danger zone,” and urged residents to have discussions with people they love in that age group to encourage them to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
The governor has adjusted the state’s vaccination rollout multiple times since doses started arriving in December and has emphasized prioritizing those who are most vulnerable to the virus. On Wednesday, residents in tiers 3 and 4 of Phase 1B — roughly 2 million people — became eligible.
President Biden this week said 90 percent of U.S. adults will be eligible for the vaccine by April 19. Data compiled by The New York Times show just a handful of states still setting May 1 as the date adults will be universally eligible, with well over a dozen states already there and many setting dates in early and mid-April.
In defense of the state’s plan and pace, Inslee pointed to an analysis from Surgo Ventures and The Associated Press that showed states that expanded vaccine eligibility early have vaccinated smaller shares of their populations.
“That research shows that a more methodical, priority-based strategy — ones like what we have done in Washington — can be a more effective strategy than simply just having everyone fight each other to the gates on Day One,” Inslee said.
Inslee also shared statistics Wednesday comparing Washington’s COVID-19 fatality rate to that of other states, calling it a testament to decision-making at the state level and by residents.
If Washington had the same fatality rate as states with the highest rates, over 15,000 more residents would have died, he said. And if the state had the average rate, more than 7,000 more would’ve died, he said.
“It is heartening that we’ve saved tens of thousands of lives in the state of Washington,” Inslee said. “But we are not done yet.”
How to make your vaccine appointment
The state this week nixed its Phase Finder tool, allowing vaccine seekers to skip a step that was previously required to prove eligibility at some vaccination sites. Now, the honor system is more important — a person need only visit the Vaccine Locator tool to find a dose and schedule an appointment.
People unable to use the online tool can call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #, to seek an appointment.
If there are appointments made available online for after April 15, people who will be eligible at that point can schedule their appointments, said Michele Roberts, who’s leading COVID-19 vaccine planning and distribution at the state Department of Health. But she said most providers don’t make appointments available that far out.
This story was originally published March 31, 2021 at 3:45 PM with the headline "All Washington adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine April 15, Gov. Inslee says."
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