A pathway to normal: Washington officials urge people to get vaccinated as cases tick up

Washington officials are pleading with people to get their COVID-19 vaccines, calling it a key step to preventing cases and hospitalizations from continuing to rise across the state.

About 41% of adults in Washington have received at least one dose of the vaccine and about 28% are fully vaccinated, according to the most recent data. That means still more than 70% of residents in Washington are still not fully protected at a time when variants are spreading rapidly and more activities are opening up.

"Vaccinations are working," Secretary of Health Umair Shah said during a news briefing Wednesday. "It's not just about people getting vaccinated but also helping their loved ones getting vaccinated ... Vaccines really do provide a pathway to getting back to normal."

In recent days, local officials in Seattle and King County have been advertising thousands of open appointments at sites across the city, a change after people for months had been vying for the limited number of open appointments available. 

"Over 3,000 vaccine appointments booked since Monday morning. If you were one of them, thank you! Now we need your help to fill the remaining 14,000 slots – tell your friends, tell your family, tell everyone you know," Mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted Tuesday. 

King County Executive Dow Constantine similarly urged people to sign up for appointments.

"Case counts and hospitalizations are rising," he tweeted. "Do your part to stop the pandemic - get your vaccine today."

Officials are working to make it easier for people to get their vaccines by opening up additional clinics, expanding hours and reaching people in other ways, such as through mobile clinics or popup events. People who have gotten their vaccine already are also being asked to tell their family, friends and neighbors about it. 

"We want to make sure everybody is a vaccine champion and an advocate as well," Shah said. "Every week is progress on vaccines, and that progress on vaccines moves us closer to ending this pandemic."

People also need to remember to get their second doses. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require a second dose between 21 and 28 days after the initial shot. If people don't get both doses, they will not be fully protected against the virus. 

Once people are fully vaccinated, they can expand the number of activities they can safely do, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes gathering with other vaccinated friends and family.

"To get to community immunity, we need to make vaccine choice the easy choice," Shah said. "If you've already gotten your vaccine, fantastic, I hope you will work with us ... It is really important to show pride in getting vaccinated, but also to have a role to play. Be kind, remind, encourage others to get vaccinated." 

Until more of the state is protected against the virus, people need to continue to do more to slow the spread. That includes wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. People should also always opt to gather outside instead of indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.

In recent weeks, the state and most counties have been seeing what officials are warning is the start of a fourth wave.

According to the most recent data, the state was seeing a rate of more than 1,300 new cases per day, compared to fewer than 700 per day in mid-March. Hospitalizations have also been rising. Incomplete data from April 25 shows the state was seeing a rate of about 75 new hospitalizations per day over the previous seven days, up significantly from mid-March, when there were about 35 hospitalizations per day. 

"We know that our immunity across the state, whether it's because of infections or because of vaccinations is still not high enough that we are concerned about a fourth wave," Shah said, "and we absolutely know that the safety and preventative precautions need to continue for a bit longer so that we can continue to fight this pandemic."

Case rates are increasing the sharpest increases among younger adults, a possible reflection of the significant portion of older adults that have been vaccinated.

Officials also estimated between 60 and 75% of cases in the state are the B.1.1.7 variant. That variant, Shah said,  "spreads more easily and likely increases severity as well."

Next week, the state will look at the data and reevaluate where counties stand and whether some will have to move back to Phase 2. Earlier this month, three counties were moved back to Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan after not meeting both metrics on case rates and hospitalizations needed to stay in Phase 3. Now, many more counties could be at risk.