SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington and Idaho are moving forward in their COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans, with essential workers next in line.
Both states have also updated their vaccine timelines, providing clarity for people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and some others who were waiting for information about their eligibility. Teachers are among those who are already eligible to receive the vaccine in both Washington and Idaho.
In an effort to clear up any remaining confusion about the states' timelines, KREM 2 is providing a breakdown of who is next in line to get the coronavirus vaccine in Washington state and Idaho.
Essential workers
Washington
Governor Jay Inslee announced that Washington state will enter Tier 2 of Phase 1B of vaccine distribution on March 17, meaning certain critical workers in the state will be eligible.
Tier 2 includes critical workers who work in certain congregate settings, such as grocery stores, agriculture, schools and child care, corrections, transit and law enforcement.
Idaho
Effective immediately, those in subgroup 2.3 of Idaho's vaccine distribution plan can schedule appointments in North Idaho. The state will officially move into this group on March 15, but Katherine Hoyer with Panhandle Health District said the region was allowed to move forward out of necessity.
Here are those in subgroup 2.3 who are eligible to receive the vaccine:
- Food and agricultural workers
- Food processing workers, including USDA processing plant inspectors
- Grocery, convenience store and food pantry workers
- Manufacturing workers
- Public transit workers
- U.S. Postal Services workers
- Flight crews
- Subset of essential gas, electric, water, and telecommunications utility workers who work indoors
- Idaho National Guard (if not included in previous subgroups)
- Residents of homeless shelters
- Interpreters (ASL or other language)
- Janitorial and cleaning staff who work within any of these sectors or settings
People with health conditions
Washington
People over the age of 50 with two or more comorbidities in Washington are expected to be eligible for the vaccine starting April 12. On April 26, eligibility is expected to expand to people 16 or older with two or more comorbidities as well as people living in congregate settings, including those in correctional facilities, group homes and the homeless.
Comorbidities include conditions like heart or lung disease, cancer, diabetes and other health conditions that make someone more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Idaho
Group 3 in Idaho is expected to include people ages 16 to 64 years old with medical conditions that increase their risk for severe COVID-19. Other essential workers who were not included in Group 2 are also expected to become eligible for the vaccine in Group 3. The state as a whole is expected to move into Group 3 of vaccine distribution in early April.
Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene has already expanded vaccine appointment eligibility to include anyone ages 18-64 with at least one "increased risk medical condition."
Those conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions such as heart failure
- Immunocompromised state
- Obesity BMI >30 /Severe obesity BMI> 40
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes
- Asthma
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
Pregnant women
Washington
People over 16 years old who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high risk will also be included in Tier 2 of Phase 1B in Washington. Again, that is expected to begin on March 22.
Idaho
Idaho has not provided information in its vaccine distribution timeline clarifying when pregnant women can expect to become eligible for the vaccine.
Kootenai Health does include pregnancy on its list of "increased risk" medical conditions.
General public
Washington
Washington has not yet released information on when future phases of its vaccine distribution plan could begin and who would become eligible. Therefore, it's unclear when members of the general public could get vaccinated.
However, we do know that future phases are slated for spring and summer 2021.
Idaho
Idaho expects to begin vaccinating members of the general public in May, though a concrete start date has not yet been announced.