Coronavirus Vaccine Eligibility Tool To Launch In WA This Week
OLYMPIA, WA — Washington is rolling out an online tool to help people discover if they qualify to get a coronavirus vaccine, using just a few simple questions.
The Washington State Department of Health's PhaseFinder began a test run at the end of December and should launch for the general public later this week. According to the state's plans, the full version of the survey will ask users to input their age, ZIP code, job type, along with any pre-existing conditions and risk factors.
Using the information provided, the tool will determine whether or not the person qualifies for vaccines under the current eligibility phase. Once vaccines are available to a wider group, The Seattle Times reports a screenshot or printout of the tool's results page will suffice as proof of eligibility. According to KING 5, those who do not yet qualify can opt to be notified by text or e-mail once they do.
Since the first vaccinations began, doses have been available only to frontline health care workers, high-risk first responders, and residents of staff of long-term care facilities — classified as Phase 1a. A second tier of the first phase will allow for the vaccination of all workers in health care settings.
Prioritization plans for the next two phases, 1b and 1c, are nearing completion and could be announced as soon as this week.
According to state data shared on New Year's Eve, nearly 70,000 Washingtonians had received their first doses of vaccine by Dec. 30 — roughly 20 percent of the 358,000 delivered. Health officials expect another 57,525 doses of Pfizer vaccine and 44,500 doses of Moderna vaccine by the end of this week.
Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a press conference to discuss the state's coronavirus response for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, which can be streamed online via TVW.
This article originally appeared on the Seattle Patch
