Pierce County Exec calls on Inslee to expand vaccine eligibility early after Phase 2 rollback April 13, 2021 at 5:48 pm Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, center, talks to East Pierce Fire & Rescue Chief Bud Backer, left, and Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte) In the wake of Pierce, Cowlitz, and Whitman counties rolling back Phase 2 of reopening, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier issued a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee Tuesday, urging him to immediately expand vaccine eligibility. Vaccine eligibility in Washington expands to everyone over the age of 16 on Thursday, April 15. Given the rising COVID-19 case rates in Pierce County that led to its move back to Phase 2, though, Dammeier is looking to get residents vaccinated at a faster rate, and in turn, drive local case rates down quickly.