TL;DR – Governor Inslee announces vaccine eligibility expansion to all adults effective April 15

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that effective April 15, all Washingtonians over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Over the past four months since Washington began administering doses of the vaccination, the state has followed a tiered eligibility system, beginning with those most at risk of hospitalization and death.

The governor and the state Department of Health (DOH) have also prioritized equity issues in each phase to ensure vaccine access to populations disproportionately affected by the virus, including communities of color and low-income communities.

The expansion of eligibility comes, in part, in response to a recent uptick in COVID cases in the state.

“We must do everything possible to ensure that we can keep cases down,” Inslee said during a press conference Wednesday. “We have concerns about the trends we are seeing across the state and we must be cautious. Opening up full eligibility will be one tool to help in the fight against the virus.

“If we get vaccinated and continue the health practices that keep those around us healthy – masks, distancing and basic hygiene – we’re going to knock this virus down. But we cannot get complacent. We feel like we are done with COVID, but this virus is not done with us yet.”

Roughly 3.3 million doses have been administered in Washington to date, and more than one million residents have been fully vaccinated.

Resources

Find more information on the COVID-19 vaccine here.

Use the Vaccine Locator tool to register for a vaccination appointment here.

For DOH’s COVID-19 Information Hotline, dial 1.800.525.0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.

COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers

On March 11, 2021, Governor Inslee announced the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced that a new third phase of the Roadmap has been added, and effective Monday, March 22, the entire state will enter Phase 3.

The complete Healthy Washington phased chart is available here.

Important Reference Documents

Healthy Washington Requirements

The following business activities must adhere to the occupancy and operation requirements outlined for their region’s Healthy Washington phase:

Spectator Events

Religious and Faith-Based Organizations

Professional Services

Personal Services

Eating and Drinking Establishments

Weddings, Funerals and Events

Sports, Recreation and Fitness

Indoor Entertainment Establishments

Outdoor Entertainment Establishments​

All employers must follow COVID-19 prevention protocols for employees as required by the Department of Labor and Industries. Industry-specific workplace requirements are listed below:

Additional Industry Requirements​

For additional industry-specific safety practices, including those for Farm and Agricultural Workers, Food Workers and Establishments, schools, healthcare providers, and others, please visit the Department of Health’s Resources and Recommendations Page.

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Brynn Brady, Ceiba Consulting | Martin Flynn Public Affairs, Inc. | 253.686.3387

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