Will Washington fully reopen before June 30? Here's where the state is at in its vaccination efforts

Wednesday marks the 500th day of Washington's COVID-19 response, and in a matter of weeks the state's economy is set to fully reopen, allowing many businesses to resume activity at full capacity.

However, health officials are expressing concern about a softening demand for COVID-19 vaccines across the state, with Secretary of Health Umair Shah wanting to avoid a "tale of two societies" where one portion of the population is vaccinated and another is not.

"The concern that we have is that those who are unvaccinated may have a false sense of reassurance that when they see others around them perhaps not having a  mask on or partaking in activities they may incorrectly assume that that goes for everyone, but that really goes for those who are vaccinated and protected," Shah said in a news briefing Wednesday.

Cases and hospitalizations across the state have been flattening following a fourth wave earlier in April and as vaccine efforts ramp up. According to the most recent statewide data available as of May 30, 62% of the state's population ages 16 and older have received one dose of the vaccine, and 54% of the population — 3.3 million people — have received both doses and are fully protected against the virus.

Those numbers do not include people between the age of 12 and 15, which only recently became eligible for the Pfizer vaccine in May. Over 106,000 residents in that age group have received one dose as of May 30 and will be receiving their second dose in the upcoming week according to Acting Assistant Secretary Michele Roberts.

That number is still below the goal Gov. Jay Inslee set of 70% of the population receiving one dose to reopen prior to June 30, and health officials say they are seeing a concerning dip in demand for the vaccine in the past few weeks. For example, only 71% of seniors ages 65 and older in the state are fully vaccinated, and they were the first group eligible.

The DOH has moved toward more caravan-style mobile vaccination efforts, bringing vaccines to people where they are instead of utilizing stationary mass vaccination sites. Three mass vaccination sites in King County will be closing in June.

But even beyond June 30 and a full reopening of the state, Shah is urging people to continue to "respect the rules of the room" when it comes to masking, and unvaccinated people will still be required to wear masks.

A mask directive urging face coverings in indoor public spaces still remains in place for King County until 70% of the county is fully vaccinated. The county currently sits at 64% of the population vaccinated.