COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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? 

Find a vaccine at Vaccines.gov.

Is there a cost for COVID-19 vaccines?

Like other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are covered by most insurance plans. 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. 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. If you are an uninsured or underinsured adult over the age of 19, you are eligible to get a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at a low 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 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? 

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get at least one dose of updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. 

• Children 6 months-4 years may need multiple doses depending on the previous number of doses received. 
• Some people who are immunocompromised may be eligible for additional doses. Please review the CDC guidelines.

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 by CDC.

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. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) changed their recommendations on May 12, 2021. You can now get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time that you get other vaccines.

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 I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I'm pregnant, lactating or planning to become pregnant?

Yes, data show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to get pregnant.

Some studies show that if you are vaccinated, your baby may even get antibodies against COVID-19 through pregnancy and lactation. Unvaccinated pregnant people who get COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe complications like preterm birth or stillbirth. In addition, people who get COVID-19 while pregnant are two to three times more likely to need advanced life support and a breathing tube.

For more resources about getting the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant and breastfeeding, please see up to date information on the One Vax, Two Lives website. 

Can people under age 18 get the vaccine?

Yes, the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine brands are authorized for children ages 6 months and older. The Novavax vaccine is available for ages 12+ under an EUA. 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 COVID-19. 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?

To make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, CDC expanded and strengthened the country’s ability to monitor vaccine safety. As a result, vaccine safety experts can monitor and detect issues that may not have been seen during the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

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 
• Pregnancy 
• 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 covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov.

Resources and Recommendations

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

Information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

• COVID-19 vaccine | Frequently asked questions

DOH Information for Health Care Providers

• COVID-19 vaccine information for health care providers
• Health care provider resources & recommendations