How Washington State is prioritizing who gets coronavirus vaccine first

When a coronavirus vaccine is approved and released, there will not be enough to offer it to everyone, announced the Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH) in a press conference Thursday.

They confirmed that prioritization will first happen at a federal level, before being given to priority groups. Vaccine distribution will adjust over time as the number of available doses increases, moving from limited to broader populations in a phased approach.

While no priority groups have been named, those currently being discussed include essential workers, healthcare workers, as well as residents and workers at long-term care facilities.

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The WSDOH also revealed that all possible vaccine candidates are still in various stages of human testing to ensure that they are safe and effective. They don’t expect all of the coronavirus vaccine candidates to come to market, but know that the federal government will cover the costs of the vaccine.

“The department is committed to science and the need to critically evaluate these new vaccines for their safety and efficacy in an unbiased way before their use. We will know more once current studies conclude,” said WSDOH.