Here’s where things stand:
• Manufacturing workers, specifically, “those who work in an enclosed congregate setting interacting with high volumes of individuals over an extended period of time (i.e., >3 hours in a 24 hour day),” are now included in Phase 1b-4 and will be eligible for vaccination tentatively on March 31st.  Complete guidance here.

• As of March 18, 2021, Phases 2-4 are now tentative. DoH is re-evaluating future vaccine eligibility phases based on COVID-19 vaccine supply and demand while trying to meet the Secretary of Health and Human Services directive to make everyone eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine by May 1, 2021.

• Tentative Phase 2 guidance (which can be found on page 33 of this document) includes, “all critical workers who are in industries essential to the functioning of society and are unable to perform roles remotely.” The date for Phase 2 is still TBD. The list of critical workers can be found here and was expanded based on Life Science Washington’s request to include, “workers and facilities supporting essential research, development, operations and clinical trials, including biotech therapies.” 

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Life Science Washington worked with the Washington Department of Health to make sure that the definition of “healthcare worker” includes life science industry employees known as Healthcare Industry Representatives (HCIRs) that work on site in hospitals or visit healthcare delivery facilities and that they qualify for vaccination in Phase 1a (see letter here).  Workers that interact with COVID patients or who are exposed to or handle SARS-CoV-2 specimens also qualify in Phase 1a (complete guidance here).

We expect that other “essential” life science industry workers will be eligible for vaccination in Phase 2, but the state has not finalized guidance beyond Phase 1 at this point (see timeline here.)

The best way to get authorized to receive a vaccination in Phase 1a, is to use State’s online vaccine authorization tool: FindYourPhaseWA.org. Simply go to the website, answer questions about your eligibility, and the site will let you know when you are eligible, and (hopefully) where you can get vaccinated.  Workers who are eligible can simply print out their authorization from the website and bring it to a vaccination site.  The site is still in beta version until next week, but should work to certify qualified healthcare workers now.

Complete Washington State COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Guidance can be found at the Department of Health’s COVID vaccination website.

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Access the letter here.

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Visit the site here.

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