SEATTLE — Two weeks after a vaccine clinic opened in Rainier Beach, people are calling the Southeast Seattle Senior Center for help with appointments.
“You have to go through this litany of questions before you can either determine if they’re eligible,” said executive director Lynda Green.
She said the state’s eligibility rules exclude people who urgently need the vaccine, like younger caregivers for older relatives.
“I would love to see that restriction lifted so that we can get people vaccinated, rather than figure out how to beat the system to get them vaccinated,” Green said.
She now supports an approach happening in other states, allowing any adult to get the vaccine.
On Tuesday, Mississippi became the second state after Alaska to open up shots for anyone over 16.
Connecticut and Ohio will soon follow suit.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office tells KIRO 7 Washington is currently staying with the prioritization plan, which focuses on equity and those most at-risk.
A spokeswoman wrote, “Obviously, when more vaccines come into the state, we will re-assess.”
“I think there’s a little more we need to do before we open it up to the masses,” said Jim Wigfall, who leads Sound Generations, which serves older adults.
Some of his senior citizen clients, as well as front-line employees, still don’t have the vaccine.
“There are some people delivering critical services and I think we need to get them vaccinated,” Wigfall said.
Washington’s tiered system focuses on those at risk from age or occupation.
Stephaun Wallace, a researcher at Fred Hutch, suggests also considering people impacted by race or ethnicity.
“I think the idea of opening up vaccine phases to everyone, pairing that to make sure you have supply, obviously, helps to support those communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” he said.
Cox Media Group
