Officials tout lottery incentive as Washington reaches 70% vaccination goal
State health officials said the vaccine lottery, which will award $1 million to the grand-prize winner this week, helped boost interest in the COVID-19 vaccine. While it took a couple weeks longer than hoped, the state finally hit the stated goal of 70% of eligible Washington residents 16 and older having at least one shot.
“More than 3.9 million people are fully vaccinated, almost half of our state, but that also means that half of our total population is still vulnerable including all of our kids under the age of 12 because they’re not eligible for vaccines,” State Secretary of Health Umair Shah told reporters Wednesday.
Washington state reopened on June 30, and the initial goal was to reach 70% of people 16 and older having at least one shot by that date.
While statewide vaccine numbers crested the 70% goal Wednesday, numbers regionally look very different depending where you are.
In King County, 78.1% of residents who are eligible to get vaccinated, those 12 and older have received at least one dose.
In Spokane County, 53.6% of eligible residents have received at least one dose.
In Garfield County, which has the lowest vaccination rate of all counties, just 30.5% of those who are eligible have gotten one dose.
The Department of Health is working with health care providers and systems to continue vaccination efforts statewide.
“We know our health care providers are a source of trusted information in the communities,” Shah said.
Additionally, the department’s Care-A-Van mobile vaccine clinics have offered 20 clinics statewide with 40 more scheduled.
The department coordinates with local health jurisdictions and partners to provide vaccines more easily.
Here’s a look at local numbersThe Spokane Regional Health District confirmed 44 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and no additional deaths.
There are 34 patients hospitalized with the virus in Spokane.
The Panhandle Health District confirmed 31 new virus cases and no new deaths.
There are 25 Panhandle residents hospitalized with the virus.