COVID-19 Vaccine Information

  Updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines are available for people 6 months of age and older.

Statewide Vaccine Standing Order

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has a statewide standing order, that allows health care providers and pharmacists to give COVID-19 vaccines to people 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, as long as they do not have a medical reason to avoid the vaccine. The standing order follows DOH Vaccine Recommendations.

DOH is committed to making COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone who can benefit from them. COVID-19 can cause serious illness, including hospitalization, long COVID, and death. The risk is higher for pregnant people, young children, older adults, people with certain health conditions, and people who are not vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines help prevent serious illness. Staying up to date on your vaccines can lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 and help protect those around you.

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children

The Washington Department of Health, along with multiple national organizations, recommends updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months – 18 years. COVID-19 vaccines can help protect children from severe illness.

The COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children are as follows:

  • Children ages 6 months–4 years may need more than one dose, depending on their age and past COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Children ages 2–18 who are at higher risk should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children ages 2–18 who are not at higher risk can get one dose if their parent or guardian wants them protected.
  • Children who have a weak immune system may need additional doses.

Talk with your child’s health care provider or pharmacist to find out which vaccine and how many doses your child needs.

Why COVID-19 Vaccination Is Important for Young Children

Children between 1 and 4 years of age are the most likely to visit the emergency room due to symptoms of COVID-19. Young children today did not experience the COVID-19 pandemic in the same way as older children and adults. Many have never been exposed to the virus or received a COVID-19 vaccine. This means they may have less protection against COVID-19.

Vaccination can help protect young children from serious illness caused by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Adults

The Washington Department of Health recommends updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines for adults 19 years and older. The COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for adults are as follows:

  • Adults ages 19–64: If you have not been vaccinated or did not finish your COVID-19 vaccine series before, get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Adults ages 65 and older: Get 2 doses of an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months apart, whether or not you have received COVID-19 vaccines before.
  • Adults who have weak immune systems: You may need additional doses after you get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Talk with your health care provider about which vaccine you need and when to get it.

Not sure which COVID-19 vaccine you need? Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist.

Why COVID-19 Vaccination Is Important for Adults

COVID-19 vaccines help protect adults from serious illness. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines can lower your risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is especially important for older adults, pregnant people, and people with certain health conditions. Those 65 years and older are the most likely to be hospitalized due to symptoms of COVID-19.

Getting vaccinated also helps protect your family and others in your community.

Available COVID-19 Vaccines

There are many COVID-19 vaccines available for certain ages. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about which one they have available and the right one for you.

  • If more than one recommended COVID-19 vaccine is available for your age, there is no preference for one vaccine over another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccines can protect you in many ways:

  • They greatly reduce your chance of getting seriously ill if you get COVID-19
  • Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines reduces your chances of hospitalization and lowers your risk of dying from COVID-19
  • Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines lowers your chances of developing Long COVID.
  • Vaccinations increase the number of people in the community who are protected, making it harder for the disease to spread
  • Experts continue to study the ability of the vaccine to keep people from spreading the virus to others.

People who aren’t vaccinated can still catch the virus and spread it to others. Some people can’t get the vaccine for medical reasons, and this leaves them especially vulnerable to COVID-19. If you aren’t vaccinated, you are also at higher risk of being hospitalized or dying from a variant. Getting vaccinated helps protect you and your family, neighbors, and community.

Where do I get the vaccine?

Contact your health care provider’s office or pharmacy for availability. You can also visit VaccineFinder.org to find a vaccine location near you.

I’m having difficulty getting COVID-19 vaccines this year. Can you help?

The Washington State Department of Health developed a COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order to help decrease barriers to getting vaccinated. A frequently asked questions document is available to help answer your questions.

Is there a cost for COVID-19 vaccines?

Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) continues to cover the COVID-19 vaccine for members, including children and pregnant individuals, in line with WA DOH recommendations.

While the Office of the Insurance Commissioner cannot require all health plans to cover COVID-19 vaccines for everyone, many health plans are still expected to provide coverage. To confirm whether a vaccine is covered, patients should contact their health plan administrator or the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine insurance coverage.

COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available at no cost to all children in Washington state until their 19th birthday through the Childhood Vaccine Program (CVP). For adults 19 years of age and older without health insurance, you are eligible to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at low to no cost through a provider or pharmacy participating in the Washington State Adult Vaccine Program (AVP). The provider may charge an administrative fee to give the vaccine, but you may request this fee be waived if you are unable to pay. You can find participating providers by using the CVP and AVP provider map. You can call a provider near you for more information on product availability and scheduling.

Who should get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine?

  • The Washington State Department of Health recommends everyone 6 months and older get at least one dose of updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Children 6 months-4 years may need multiple doses depending on the previous number of doses received.

  • People who are immunocompromised may be eligible for additional doses. You can let a provider or pharmacy know that you are immunocompromised (self-attest) and would like to get COVID-19 vaccine. Providers and pharmacists should not deny COVID-19 vaccination to a person due to lack of documentation. See the resource about self-attestation for more information.
When am I considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination if you have received the most recent updated dose(s) recommended for you.

What happens if I get sick after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

It's normal to have some side effects after getting the vaccine. This can be a sign that the vaccine is working. If you experience a medical emergency after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, call 9-1-1 immediately.

If you get sick after getting the vaccine, you should report the adverse event to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). An “adverse event” is any health problem or side effect that happens after a vaccination.

For more information about VAERS and vaccine safety, visit DOH’s Vaccine Safety webpage.

Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine when I get routine vaccinations?

Yes, you can get COVID-19 vaccine along with other vaccinations. Also, you do not need to schedule your child's required school vaccinations or other recommended vaccines separately from COVID-19 vaccination. A COVID-19 vaccine appointment is another opportunity to get your child caught up on all of their recommended vaccines.

Can people under age 18 get the vaccine?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are available and recommended for children and teens 6 months and older. The vaccine available depends on the child’s age.

People under 18 may need may need consent from a parent or guardian to get vaccinated, unless they are legally emancipated. Check with the vaccine clinic about their requirements for showing proof of parental consent or legal emancipation.

Why should I be concerned about my child getting COVID-19?

More than 1,500 U.S. children have died from or with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Infants are especially at higher risk of getting COVID-19, especially before they are able to get vaccinated. New COVID-19 variants are currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.

While COVID-19 is often milder in children than adults, children can still get very sick and spread it to friends and family who have weak immune systems or are vulnerable in other ways. Half of reported pediatric COVID-19 deaths in the United States were in children with no underlying health conditions.

Children who are infected with COVID-19 can develop “Long COVID” or persistent symptoms that often include brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath. Vaccination is the best way to keep kids healthy and safe.

Children who get infected with COVID-19 may be at greater risk for Multisystem inflammatory syndrome. This is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. While it is still unknown what causes this syndrome, many children had COVID-19 or had been around someone with COVID-19. This condition can be serious, even deadly, but most children diagnosed have gotten better with medical care.

How do we know that the vaccines are safe and protect children against severe illness?

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be monitored for safety and reviewed for effectiveness. Information on vaccine side effects are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when the vaccine license is renewed.

Learn more from Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence.

What underlying medical conditions place you at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19?

People of any age with the conditions listed below are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines and other preventive measures for COVID-19 are important, especially if you are older or have multiple or severe health conditions including those on this list. This list does not include all possible conditions that place you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you have a condition not included here, talk to your health care provider about how best to manage your condition and protect yourself from COVID-19.

View this updated list of underlying medical conditions that might cause severe COVID-19. For an easy-to-read version, view People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.

  • Cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic lung diseases
  • Dementia or other neurological conditions
  • Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
  • Down syndrome Heart conditions
  • HIV infection Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
  • Mental health conditions
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
  • Smoking, current or former
  • Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
  • Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
  • Substance use disorders
  • Tuberculosis
Will people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised need a doctor’s note, prescription, or other documentation to receive these doses?

People can self-identify and receive additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. The Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order provides a prescription for health care providers and pharmacies to refer to. People who have a weak immune system should talk with their health care provider about whether they need an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose.

My question wasn't answered here. How can I find out more?

General questions can be sent to oi@doh.wa.gov.

Resources and Recommendations

DOH Information for Health Care Providers

Vaccine Guidance Resources