In just under a year since vaccine distribution began, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has administered over 10 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The department announced the milestone on Nov. 6 and noted that vaccine distribution across Washington began Dec. 14, 2020.

“Giving out 10 million doses of life-saving vaccine is something we should all be proud of here in Washington,” said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. “Knowing that younger kids can now be protected from the worst outcomes of this virus is an incredible relief, not just for parents and families, but for everyone. The more people vaccinated, the more community protection we have, and that’s good for us all.”

This is the latest milestone in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out, which was reached just days after children ages 5 to 11 became eligilble for vaccinations, according to the department.

The hard work of providers, local and private sector partners, DOH staff, community members, and countless others committed to community health and safety has been vital to the state’s continued success, the department said.

To celebrate the occasion, several DOH leaders visited a vaccination clinic in eastern Washington on Nov. 8 where children gathered to receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine.

To schedule a vaccination appointment, reach out to your child’s pediatrician, your health care provider, local pharmacy, or a mobile clinic near you.

Vaccine Locator is also a helpful tool to find a nearby vaccination location. When scheduling an appointment for someone ages 5 to 11, select “Pfizer-BioNTech Pediatric” vaccine from the filters section of the webpage, which is the only vaccine currently authorized for younger kids.

Those who need help making an appointment should call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. Language assistance is available.