WA moves up vaccine eligibility

By Terry Murry on Monday, April 5th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

OLYMPIA – All people in Washington state older than 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination beginning April 15. Gov. Jay Inslee explained that the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases is part of the reason for the change.

“We must do everything possible to ensure that we can keep cases down,” Inslee said. “We have concerns about the trends we are seeing across the state and we must be cautious. Opening up full eligibility will be one tool to help in the fight against the virus.”

Inslee urged people to continue to use the health practices to keep others healthy. An upsurge in cases is being felt nationally and across the border in Canada as well.

Washington has already administered more than 3 million vaccinations, and more than 1 million of those people are fully vaccinated.

“We cannot get complacent,” Inslee said. “We feel like we are done with COVID, but this virus is not done with us yet.”