The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has officially recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This recommendation significantly broadens the scope of eligibility compared to the guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late August, which limited vaccine access to individuals aged 65 and older, as well as to those aged 6 months and up who have specific high-risk conditions.
Historically, states have aligned their recommendations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but many are now taking cues from West Coast initiatives and forming their own advisory groups. The newly established West Coast Health Alliance, which includes Hawaii, is now following guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In a notable departure from federal guidelines, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans to sign an executive order that will allow nearly anyone to access the vaccine. This marks the DOH’s first recommendation since Washington, Oregon, and California collaborated to issue their own vaccine guidelines, citing “recent federal actions that undermine the independence of the CDC.”
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, known for his critical stance on vaccines, recently restructured the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing all members with appointees who share his skepticism about vaccination. ACIP is scheduled to meet in mid-September to provide its official recommendations regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as vaccines for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The Washington Department of Health has cautioned that appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine may be limited, as some providers are still awaiting their supplies of the updated vaccine. Currently, the DOH’s Childhood and Adult Vaccine programs are not available and may not be accessible until late September or October. “The DOH urges everyone to remain patient and vigilant in staying up to date on vaccinations,” the agency stated in a press release.
Additionally, the department confirmed that the vaccine will continue to be covered by most private insurance plans, Apple Health (Washington’s Medicaid program), and Washington’s Adult and Childhood Vaccine programs once they become available for the year.
