Gov. Jay Inslee

All adults in Washington state will be eligible to get a vaccination against COVID-19 starting Thursday, April 15.

Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday that anyone over the 

age of 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

The change in eligibility follows the recent increase in COVID cases across Washington.

“We must do everything possible to ensure that we can keep cases down," Inslee said during a press conference Wednesday.

"We have concerns about the trends we are seeing across the state and we must be cautious. Opening up full eligibility will be one tool to help in the fight against the virus," he added.

Washington state has been using a tiered eligibility system for COVID shots. Those who were most at risk of hospitalization and death were first on the list for vaccinations.

That system, however, has been criticized by health officers and others as overly complex and confusing.

Roughly 3.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Washington, and more than 1 million residents have been fully vaccinated. 

Inslee said Washingtonians shouldn't stop taking precautions against the spread of coronavirus.

"If we get vaccinated and continue the health practices that keep those around us healthy — masks, distancing and basic hygiene — we’re going to knock this virus down," the governor said. "But we cannot get complacent. We feel like we are done with COVID, but this virus is not done with us yet."