Inslee makes educators COVID vaccine eligible after White House directive

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE |||

Following a White House directive to state providers to make all preK-12 educators, school staff and childcare providers, eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday announced their immediate eligibility.

Inslee issued a statement that read, in part:

“Like President Biden, I am grateful for the hard work and sacrifice of educators every day, and especially during this pandemic. The president has directed us to add preK-12 educators, school staff and childcare workers to our current vaccine prioritization. This directive will be carried out through existing providers and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which operates through national pharmacies and independent pharmacy chains.

“Therefore, we are adding educators and licensed childcare workers to Washington’s Phase 1B-1 immediately…The good news is that schools will be able to open and we are pleased that teachers will be back in the classroom. This should give educators more confidence to return to in-person learning and that it can be done with the safety protocols that are being used by 1,400 other schools in our state right now.”

Projected timeline for more vaccine eligibility

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state’s projected timeline for making the next prioritized populations eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement came at the same time the state announced it has administered more than 1.7 million doses at a daily average of 45,000, meeting the state’s original goal for daily doses.

Phase 1B Tier 2

On the state’s current trajectory, it is expected that on March 22, a little over two weeks from now, those in the second tier of Phase 1B will be eligible for the vaccine.

This applies to all critical workers who work in certain congregate settings will be eligible that day, assuming supply continues to increase. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, fire fighters, law enforcement, as well as workers in corrections, prisons, jails or detention centers.

More people were added to this tier as well on Tuesday. People over 16 years old who are pregnant or who have a disability that puts them at high-risk will also be eligible.

Phase 1B Tier 3

Beginning in mid-April, the state Department of Health expects to make additional individuals eligible for the vaccine.

By April 12, people who are 50 or older with two or more comorbidities will be eligible for the vaccine.

Two weeks later, April 26, people who are 16 or older and have two or more comorbidities will be eligible.

Comorbidities are certain underlying medical conditions, like heart disease, cancer or diabetes, which could make someone more vulnerable to severe complications from COVID-19. For more on what comorbidities present an increased risk of complications from COVID-19, read the CDC’s list.

That same day, April 26, people living in congregate settings will become eligible. This includes people living in correctional facilities, group homes for people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness that live in or access services in congregate settings.

These dates are projections. Expanding eligibility will depend on supply and progress in vaccinating earlier groups. For more on the state’s vaccine prioritizations, visit the state Department of Health website.