Thousands More COVID Vaccines Arrive in Washington

The State Department of Health held their weekly update Wednesday morning saying that while the situation is improving, it's not far enough along yet.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Michele Roberts says the state got nearly 45,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week, the second shipment to arrive.

"Next week we expect to receive 57,525 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 44,300 of the Moderna vaccine."

Vaccines are still going to frontline health care workers.

"Facilities who are registered through the CDC long-term care program will begin vaccinations on December 28th."

Both vaccines are two-dose vaccines that need multiple shots for full inoculation.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist says we are also seeing some plateauing when it comes to positive COVID tests and hospitalizations.

"In perspective, it allows us to have some hope, coupled with the vaccine. This is all very promising news but we are not out of the woods yet."

The Health Department says they expect to announce the next phase of the vaccine in the next week or so, but the distribution of those vaccines might not happen for a few weeks.