COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines are available to people 6 months of age and older.

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children

American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Schedule (PDF) recommends updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months – 18 years that target the monovalent JN.1-lineage. The COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children are as follows:

  • Healthy children 6–23 months who are unvaccinated are recommended to receive 2 doses of Moderna Spikevax.
  • Healthy children 6–23 months who were previously vaccinated are recommended to receive 1 or 2 doses of Moderna Spikevax (timing and number of doses depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine[s] received).
  • Children 2–4 years at higher risk, regardless of previous vaccination, are recommended to receive 1 dose of Moderna Spikevax at least 2 months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children 5–11 years at higher risk, regardless of previous vaccination, are recommended to receive 1 dose of Moderna Spikevax or Pfizer Comirnaty at least 2 months after the most recent dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children 12–18 years at higher risk, regardless of previous vaccination, are recommended to receive:
    • 1 dose of Moderna Spikevax, Pfizer Comirnaty, or Novavax Nuvaxovid at least 2 months after the most recent dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
    • 1 dose of Moderna mNEXSPIKE at least 3 months after the most recent dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Children 2–18 years not at higher risk whose parent or guardian desires protection from COVID-19 are recommended to receive a single dose of age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine.

Children 6 months – 18 years who are immunocompromised should talk with their health care provider about the number of doses needed and the timing between doses. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Adults

American Academy of Family Physicians Immunization Schedule (PDF) recommends updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 19 years and older. The COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for adults are as follows:

  • Healthy adults 19–64 years who are unvaccinated are recommended to receive 1 dose Moderna Spikevax, mNexspike, Pfizer Comirnaty, or Nuvaxovid.
  • Healthy adults 19–64 years who were previously vaccinated are recommended to receive 1 dose Moderna Spikevax, mNexspike, Pfizer Comirnaty, or Nuvaxovid.
  • Healthy adults 65 years or older who are unvaccinated or previously vaccinated are recommended to receive 2 doses of Moderna Spikevax, mNexspike, Pfizer Comirnaty, or Nuvaxovid at least 2 months apart.
  • Adults 19 years or older who are immunocompromised should talk with their health care provider about the number of doses needed and the timing between doses. 
  • People who are up to date have lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 than people who are unvaccinated or who have not completed the doses recommended for them.
  • Everyone 6 months and older need one updated COVID-19 vaccine dose to be up to date.
  • People 65 years old and older should receive 2 doses of any updated COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart. If needed, the second dose can be given as soon as 2 months after the first dose.
  • Children 6 to 23 months may need more than one dose of an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine if they didn’t complete the initial series.
  • People 6 months and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should complete a primary series with an age-appropriate updated COVID-19 vaccine if not previously vaccinated. Immunocompromised persons may receive additional doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their last dose after discussion with their health care provider.
  • People 6 months and older who have already completed a primary series and are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get at least 2 doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart. Immunocompromised persons may receive additional doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their last dose after discussion with their health care provider.

Available COVID-19 Vaccines

There are two types of COVID-19 vaccines available:

  • mRNA vaccines
    • Moderna 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine - available for ages 6 months and older
    • Pfizer 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine - available for ages 5 years and older
  • Protein subunit vaccines
    • Novavax 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine - available for ages 12 years and older

There is no recommendation for any one COVID-19 vaccine over another when more than one recommended and age-appropriate vaccine is available.

Check out some of these resources below to find out more about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for you and your family:

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 providers office or pharmacy for availability.

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

The Washington 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). There are also programs for adults that can help cover costs of getting vaccinated if they don’t have health insurance or their plan doesn’t cover the vaccine. For uninsured adults 19 years of age and older, you are eligible to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at low to no cost through a provider participating in the Washington State Adult Vaccine Program (AVP). Your AVP 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 an AVP 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 dose 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?

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children ages 6 months and older. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for people 5 years and older. The Novavax vaccine, Moderna, and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine brands are authorized for ages 12 and older . Youth who are under 18 years of age may need consent from a parent or guardian to get the vaccine, 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?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 15 million children in the United States have gotten sick with COVID-19 and thousands of children have died from this disease. 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 are immunocompromised or 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-19” 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 (MIS-C). MIS-C 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 MIS-C, many children with MIS-C had COVID-19 or had been around someone with COVID-19. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care.

How do we know that the vaccines are safe and effective for children?

COVID-19 vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness in order to be licensed. Pediatric vaccine studies follow patient’s health up to two years after vaccination. Information on vaccine side effects are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Learn more from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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 (initial and additional doses) 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.

  • 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?

No, individuals can self-identify and receive all doses anywhere vaccines are offered. This will help ensure there are not additional barriers to access for this population. If immunocompromised individuals have questions about their specific medical condition, they may discuss whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them with their health care provider.

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

Find additional resources and recommendations. For vaccine-specific information, choose the vaccine tab. Some resources in many languages.

DOH Information for Health Care Providers

Vaccine Guidance Resources