Next Phase Of Vaccinations To Begin March 22: Inslee

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington's next phase of vaccinations will begin later this month.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that, based on current vaccination trajectories, the state could enter the next tier of vaccinations on March 22.

That next tier, Phase 1B2, makes a half dozen more groups eligible for vaccination — largely essential employees who work in congregate settings. It includes:

• Workers in agriculture and food processing.
• Grocery store workers.
• Public transit employees.
• First responders, law enforcement, and firefighters.
• Corrections employees at jails and detention centers.

Critically, 1B2 also includes anyone 16 and older who is either pregnant or has a disability that puts them at higher risk.

"Being able to expand to this next tranche of people is really good news in my view," Inslee said.

The governor did note that the expected date of March 22 could change, and is based on the promise that the Biden administration will continue allocating larger shipments of vaccines over the coming two weeks.

"The only constant is that we will continue to be evolving," said Dr. Umair Shah, Washington secretary of health.

If supply comes through as predicted, the state should be capable of broadening its scope even further by mid-April, the governor said. Inslee's timeline predicts that by April 12, the state will be able to vaccinate anyone 50+ with two or more comorbidities. By April 26, that could expand to anyone over 16 with comorbidities, plus people living in congregate settings, including people experiencing homelessness who live in or use congregate settings.

Comorbidities recognized by the CDC include cancer, chronic lung disease, heart conditions and type two diabetes, among others.

The news comes just two days after the state expanded the current phase, 1B1, to include teachers.

Because of supply shortages and high demand, many Washingtonians who qualified under the earlier phases still have not received their first or second doses of the vaccine. State health leaders stress that this change doesn't mean they lose eligibility.

"We are not leaving anyone behind, if you are already eligible for the vaccine, you remain eligible for vaccinating," said Shah.

With the addition of educators earlier this week, the list of currently eligible groups include:

• Health care workers.
• Medical first responders.
• Teachers.
• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities.
• Anyone 65 and older.
• Residents 50 or older and who live in a multigenerational household.

Washington health care providers administered an average of 43,765 vaccine doses a day during the week ending March 1, according to the state's COVID-19 data dashboard. That remains shy of the DOH's stated goal of 45,000 vaccines a day, but health leaders say they're optimistic the rollout will continue to improve.

"We're going to get there, we're going to get there together," said Shah.

This is a breaking news story, check back for future updates.