COVID-19 vaccination

Everyone age 6 months and older! If you recently had a COVID-19 infection, consider waiting three months to get an updated vaccine. You might choose to get it earlier if you are at high risk or spend time with someone who is. If you recently got a COVID-19 vaccine, wait at least two months to get another shot.

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults ages 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised get a second dose of COVID vaccine six months after the first dose. If you are immunocompromised, talk to your doctor to find out if getting additional doses (three or more) makes sense for you.

Three vaccines are authorized for use in the U.S.: Novavax, Moderna, and Pfizer. Novavax is a protein-based vaccine. It contains harmless proteins (pieces) of the COVID-19 virus to help your immune system respond to the virus in the future. Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. They teach your cells how to make a similar protein by themselves. All three vaccines help you produce antibodies that protect you from getting sick. Check with your pharmacy or provider to see which vaccines they carry.

The pandemic may be officially over, but COVID-19 is unfortunately here to stay. COVID-19 is still causing hospitalizations and deaths every day in the U.S., including right here in King County. And even young, healthy people get Long COVID – a series illness that causes long-term health conditions. 

Even if you’ve been vaccinated before, it’s important to get an updated COVID-19 shot for a few reasons. First, the protection you got from a COVID-19 shot decreases over time. Second, the viruses that cause COVID-19 are changing all the time. An updated shot gives you protection this fall and winter against the viruses circulating in the community now. 

COVID-19 infection can be serious, and even life threatening, for anyone. But some people are at greater risk of hospitalization and death. This includes older adults, people with underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease, pregnant people, and people without access to healthcare. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the best steps you can take to protect yourself and the people you love.

Billions of people around the world have been safely vaccinated against COVID-19. All of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully tested. This included large clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials are designed to identify any safety concerns. After a COVID-19 vaccine is introduced, health experts monitor for any safety concerns on an ongoing basis.