Department of Health releases interim COVID-19 vaccination plan

The Washington State Department of Health released its “interim” COVID-19 vaccination plan Wednesday morning.

The 72-page plan was released in response to a request from the CDC for state health departments to outline how they plan to tackle vaccine distribution. It is intended to be “updated over time as additional planning occurs,” according to an executive summary at the beginning of the report.

The report says the state is well positioned to “receive, handle, distribute, and administer COVID-19 vaccine” once a “safe and effective” one is available.

A COVID-19 vaccine has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

While many of the details are still being worked out, the report does provide some information about the different phases and who will have access to the vaccine first.

Phase 1 of the vaccine will be highly targeted at specific groups - this could include high-risk health care workers, first responders, essential workers or older adults in congregate settings.

The plan will be updated as more information becomes available.

Have an opinion on how the vaccine should be distributed? Fill out a survey from the Department of Health - this link is in English, and this link takes you to the survey in other languages.

Cox Media Group