COVID-19 vaccine distribution update from the Washington State Department of Health
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shared key updates on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration efforts.
Phases & Changes
DOH is eager to pick up the pace to get vaccines to people who need them and expect to move into Phase 1B in a matter of days. So, DOH is asking health care workers in Phase 1A who haven’t gotten their vaccine to make an appointment now.
“Opening up Phase 1B doesn’t ‘turn off the spigot’ for people Phase 1A,” says Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts, one of the state’s leaders for vaccine rollout, “but we want to make sure that the people prioritized now take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated in the next few days.”
Vaccines are the tool that will ultimately bring this pandemic era to an end. It is what will allow us to open our businesses; go back to school; hug our friends. But, there’s a lot to do before we get there. We need to make sure people at highest risk of getting very sick or dying get vaccinated first – and the rest of us follow suit when it’s our turn. That’s what prioritization is all about.
“We have to do it well, and we have to do it right,” adds Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. “It’s all about striking a balance between speed and proper process as we distribute vaccine. We’re going as fast as we can, but we need to do better, and we will. To our community we want to say: We’re on it. Finding the right balance is the key to success for the future, and that’s our goal.”
Get the entire update: 20210113-Washington-State-COVID-Update