Gov. Jay Inslee announced this week that beginning April 15, all Washington residents 16 or older will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the Kitsap Public Health District, that means that more than 200,000 people in the community will have the opportunity to get vaccinated, “preventing countless hospitalizations, saving lives and bringing us closer to ending this devastating pandemic.”
“However, while vaccine allocations have gradually increased, there will not be enough vaccine available on April 15 for everyone to get a shot immediately,” a news release states. “People will need to be patient and persistent as they look for vaccination appointments. Vaccine supplies will continue to grow this spring and everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one.”
As of March 29, about 73,400 Kitsap residents 16 or older (34%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. That leaves an estimated 131,000 Kitsap residents 16 or older who have not yet received a shot.
“Thanks to the diligence of health care professionals and volunteers across our county, we’ve already made great progress getting Kitsap residents vaccinated,” the release states. “We still have a long way to go to immunize the majority of our community members.”
Additionally, the state Department of Health has retired its Phase Finder tool (findyourphasewa.org) that helped residents determine what phase of vaccination they qualified for.
Some important notes outlined by the health district include:
- A Phase Finder verification is no longer required for vaccination, but vaccination phases are still in effect. Go to covidvaccinewa.org to determine if you are eligible or call 1-800-525-0127.
- If you are eligible, you should book the first vaccination appointment available to you.
- If you do not yet qualify, please do not book an appointment earlier than April 15. By waiting your turn, you will help ensure vaccination appointments are available for people who are at a higher risk.
- If you completed Phase Finder and signed up for a notification, you will still be notified when you are eligible for vaccination.
