DOH commemorates one year of COVID-19 vaccines in Washington> Washington State Department of Health

For immediate release: December 14, 2021 (21-247)

Contact: Communication from the Ministry of Health

Public inquiries: State COVID-19 Information Hotline, 1-800-525-0127

DOH commemorates one year of COVID-19 vaccination in Washington

As of December 2020, more than 11 million doses of vaccine have been distributed statewide

OLYMPIA – A year ago today, the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Washington. Since then, more than 11.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered statewide and more than 5.4 million Washingtonians have received at least one dose. These remarkable milestones could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of healthcare workers, public health providers, first responders, community members and countless others who have protected our communities in distributing life-saving vaccines.

“It’s amazing how far we’ve come in just one year,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “From mass vaccination sites, to public-private partnerships, to the Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System Center (VACCS), to mobile vaccination efforts through Care-a-Van, and more, it is clear that this response required immense ingenuity and hard work. I am proud to serve as Secretary of State for Health and to call Washington home. “

Click here to watch DOH leaders reflect on the past year of vaccines in Washington

This fall, vaccine eligibility expanded to include children as young as 5 years old. In less than six weeks, more than 158,000 children aged 5 to 11 received their first dose.

“Seeing children as young as 5 years old get vaccinated against COVID-19 is another great illustration of the progress made over the past year,” said Michele Roberts, Acting Assistant Secretary. “As a mother, getting my daughter vaccinated has been one of the highlights of my year. Vaccines keep children safe in the classroom, protect them when they are with their friends, and help us all stay healthy as we reunite with our loved ones this holiday season.

“I am proud of how far our state has come over the past year. Getting millions of people vaccinated – and over 1.3 million people an extra dose – is no small feat. I would like to warmly thank everyone who helped us reach these milestones, ”said Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, Scientific Director. “As we head into 2022, I want to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and protect themselves to protect you, your loved ones and our community as a whole. “

Booster doses are now recommended for anyone 16 years of age and over, six months after completing a series of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in one single injection. Although most residents of the state are vaccinated, more than 1.7 million eligible Washingtonians have not started their immunization round, putting them at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized. or die from COVID-19.

Visit Vaccine locator Where Vaccines.gov make an appointment today to be vaccinated. If you have any questions, visit the DOH’s Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccine webpage or speak to your trusted healthcare provider. You can also call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. Linguistic assistance is available.

WATCH: DOH commemorates one year of COVID-19 vaccines

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