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JoAnn Lewis receives a COVID-19 vaccination from a Washington National Guard doctor at the Town Toyota Center on January 26, 2021 in Wenatchee, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder / Getty Images)
On April 15, 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all willing adults, aged 16 and over, in Washington state.
Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Washington state
Governor Inslee announced the expansion on Wednesday, after previously expressing that the state would not be likely to extend eligibility widely to all adults long before President Biden’s May 1 deadline. The governor has not completely ruled out the possibility of earlier expansion. , which he says could happen if the vaccination rate increases significantly.
The federal government has said dose allowances are expected to increase in April. More than 30 other states have already set a May 1 date for expanding eligibility to all adults.
Gov. Inslee and state health officials have previously prioritized limited-dose allocation to those most vulnerable to severe illness or death, which has included older adults and those who live in long-term care facilities, as well as those with disabilities or co-morbidities. It has been extended to those who live and work in other assembly places, including agricultural workers, and to those who work in jobs with a higher risk of exposure, such as grocery store or food workers. restaurant, public transport workers and educators.
April 15 is four months to the day after the start of vaccinations in Washington on December 15, 2020.
One of the reasons the state is choosing to open up vaccine eligibility, Inslee explained, is due to a worrying upward trend in cases in many parts of the state. Opening full eligibility is a tool to help fight the virus and help ensure cases stay down.
Governor Inslee pointed out that there are still a number of people over the age of 65 who still have not received their COVID-19 vaccination.
“It’s a dangerous situation not to be vaccinated, especially if you’re over 65 today,” Inslee said. “… I ask all of us to help these people – our parents, our uncles, our aunts, our grandparents.”
As of Wednesday, March 31, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Washington now includes those in Phase 1B, Levels 3, and 4. Anyone eligible in a previous phase or level remains eligible.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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