TUMWATER – As of December 28, 2020, the Washington Department of Corrections has received limited COVID-19 vaccine doses and began vaccinating staff and a limited number of incarcerated individuals, according to the approved Phase 1A dosing prioritization. This process will occur over a period of several weeks based on the vaccine supply availability.
The Phase 1A vaccine recommendation is that workers in healthcare settings, who are most at risk for becoming infected, such as those working in units that care for people with COVID-19 as well as residents of long-term care facilities, be offered the first available doses of the vaccine.
The department’s priority list is based on the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Washington State Department of Health recommendations for Phase 1A vaccine dosing prioritization. According to Washington Corrections’ current Phase 1A prioritization plan, reviewed with the Washington State Department of Health, the following groups will be offered priority vaccines:
1) Departmental staff working in the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC) Sage East unit, a long-term care living unit that houses geriatric incarcerated individuals with chronic medical needs and/or requiring assistance with activities and daily living;
2) Incarcerated individuals who are geriatric with chronic medical needs residing and/or requiring assistance with activities of daily living in CRCC Sage East, a long term care living unit in the facility that houses less than 40 individuals, or other long term care patients, (approximately 20) with similar needs who cannot reside in Sage East,;
3) Departmental staff working in medical in-patient units at multiple facilities and regional care facilities (RCF) caring for COVID-19 patients;
4) Departmental staff working in medical isolation units at multiple facilities comprised of COVID-19 patients. Vaccine information will be added to our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions.
