OLYMPIA, Wash.

Since the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Washington state a year ago, more than 11.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered statewide, according to health officials of State.

The Washington State Department of Health said on Tuesday that more than 5.4 million Washington residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine. As of Monday, 81.7% of the population aged 12 and over in Washington received at least one dose and 75.3% are fully immunized, according to the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

“I am proud of how far our state has come over the past year,” Scientific Director Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett said in a press release. “Getting millions of people vaccinated – and over 1.3 million people an extra dose – is no small feat. I would like to warmly thank everyone who helped us reach these milestones. ”

Authorities say more than 1.7 million eligible Washingtonians have not started their vaccination round, putting them at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill, hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19.

People 5 years of age and older are eligible to receive a vaccine. Booster doses are recommended for anyone aged 16 and over, six months after completing the Pfizer or Moderna injections or two months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson injection.

This story was originally published December 15, 2021 3:03 pm.