WA Phases Out Phase Finder: What It Means For Your Appointment

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington's Phase Finder is no more, and patients seeking vaccination no longer have to use the website to prove that they are eligible for the vaccine.

That doesn't mean phases are going away or that just anyone can get a dose, but it is one less hoop Washingtonians have to jump through to get their shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The goal is to vaccinate as many vulnerable community members as fast as possible before opening vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 years and older in just a few weeks. Removing Phase Finder will help speed up the process by reducing barriers for eligible individuals,” says Michele Roberts, head of the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Though the phase finder tool has gone offline, phases are still kicking around — health care providers will still be vetting applicants, so residents should still wait until they are eligible for a shot before booking an appointment.

“We trust most people will continue to do the right thing and wait their turn to be vaccinated,” Roberts said.

As of Wednesday, Washington has entered Phases 1B3 and 1B4, expanding eligibility to include several more groups:

With Phase Finder out of the picture, the Department of Health is now encouraging Washingtonians to try their new Vaccine Locator website, which allows residents to search for available vaccines by ZIP code and book appointments online.