State DOH says Phase 1B, Tier 1 could take months to get through
Jan 25, 2021, 5:24 PM | Updated: Oct 2, 2024, 8:48 pm
Jamie Yeini receives a shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Melisa Alavarez, right, at the at a Sacramento County drive-thru vaccination center at the California Exposition & State Fair grounds in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The Washington State Department of Health says it’s getting 100,000 vaccine doses from the federal government each week now, but that’s still nowhere near the goal of 300,000 doses a week, which is what’s needed to reach the state’s goal to vaccinate 45,000 people a day. Currently, Washington state is vaccinating about a third of that number per day.
The state says there are about 1.7 million people in Phase 1B, Tier 1, so this could take months to get through. However, the next phases open before the previous phase is completed.
Where to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Washington state
“We’re limited by the 100,000 doses per week,” said Michele Roberts, acting assistant secretary with the state Department of Health.
Roberts added that the limited supply means that in some places, appointments are having to be canceled as providers wait for more doses to arrive.
About 500,000 total vaccine doses have been administered statewide. So far, most vaccines have been given out at health clinics and hospitals.
The best way to ensure you get a vaccine when you are eligible is to sign up for FindYourPhaseWa.org, or to use the Department of Health’s list and map of eligible providers so you know who to reach out to in your area.
Mass vaccination clinics are being established in each region as well. Four opened on Monday in eastern and southern Washington. The next sites will include Thurston, Kitsap, and Whatcom counties.
“King, Pierce, and Snohomish County all have their own mass vaccination sites,” Roberts said.
Why Snohomish County closed vaccination sites Monday
