Inslee announces Phase 1b changes, expects to vaccinate 45,000 people a day
Seattle’s big corporations are joining the state to help distribute coronavirus vaccines.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee announced on Monday that Washington State will expand access to COVID-19 vaccines to include 65-year-olds. Those aged 50 and over who live in multi-generation families are also eligible.
The state is now moving on to Phase 1b of its vaccine roadmap. Initially, health officials planned to limit distribution to 70-year-olds.
The governor also said that the state will be open to more flexibility with regard to the plan going forward.
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Last week, Washington ranked 26th in the country for vaccine distribution, slightly above the national average, but far from stellar.
There is also confusion among states about how many additional vaccine shipments are arriving and when states will receive them.
Inslee said there will soon be 45,000 vaccines available every day, as soon as possible. This is greater than the current federal allocation – the state is currently vaccinating 13,000 to 15,000 people a day.
You can check your vaccine’s eligibility here.
To put pressure on local providers, Inslee announced that providers should use 95% of the doses allocated in the first week. Doses received before this week must be used by 24 January.
The governor also announced that mass vaccination sites will arrive soon across the state. Some of the venues that will be part of the initial launch are the Spokane Arena Toyota Town Center, the Wenatchee Benton County Fairgrounds and the Clark County Fairgrounds. It starts next week.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said he would allow local hospitals to use buildings on Microsoft’s campus to administer vaccines to the public.
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