State’s Phase Finder tool no longer needed to verify vaccine eligibility starting Wednesday

SEATTLE — As a record number of people are about to become eligible to receive their vaccinations against COVID-19, Washington’s Department of Health is loosening the rules for people to sign up for their vaccines.

The state announced that starting Wednesday, Phase Finder will no longer be required to verify eligibility. But that doesn’t mean people should skip ahead if they’re not yet eligible.

Phase Finder is an online questionnaire people are required to take to prove they are eligible to get vaccinated.

It’s a major development in the effort for people going to vaccination sites to receive their shots more easily.

The development comes an additional 2 million people are about to qualify for their COVID-19 shots when the state moves into Phase 1B, tiers 3 and 4 on Wednesday.

Health officials say the goal is to get as many vulnerable community members vaccinated as soon as possible before vaccine eligibility is opened to all people 16 and older on May 1.

Removing Phase Finder will speed up that process and health officials said they trust most people will continue to do the right thing and wait their turn.

Here’s who’s eligible under Phase 1B, tiers 3 and 4 starting Wednesday, March 31:

• Anyone 60 and older
• People 50 and older with two or more comorbidities.
• People 16 and older with two or more comorbidities
• People, staff and volunteers in certain congregate living settings including:

o Group homes for people with disabilities

o Correctional facilities

o Settings where people experiencing homelessness live or access services

• High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings including:

o Restaurants

o Food services

o Construction

o Manufacturing

Anyone who has questions about when they are eligible can find the vaccine phases here as well as vaccine prioritization guidance.

Cox Media Group