Taking care of our loved ones and looking after each other is simply second nature in our culture. We do what is necessary to provide what our friends and family need. Although sometimes we put our family's needs before our own, it’s important to remember that taking care of our own health first allows us to be there for those we love so we can continue creating new memories together.

• COVID-19 has become milder and more "manageable." How does added protection from the latest updated vaccine help me?

• COVID-19 is extremely unpredictable, we know some variants are likely to affect your health more or differently than others. In some cases, unvaccinated people with no chronic health conditions have been reported to get very sick and even die. Others have been known to get symptoms that last for months, greatly affecting their quality of life. We still don't know all the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection. The best way to protect yourself and your family is by staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.

• I feel protected after developing natural immunity from getting sick with COVID-19. What are the benefits of getting the latest updated COVID-19 vaccine?

• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19. The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from previous infection or COVID-19 vaccination declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore and provide added protection against the variants responsible for current hospitalizations in the United States – even if you had COVID-19 before.

  Recent CDC data shows that people who received the updated COVID-19 vaccine were 54% less likely to get infected with COVID-19 during the four-month period from mid-September 2023 to January 2024.

• I worry about missing work. What if I get sick from getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

• Like other vaccines, the updated COVID-19 vaccine can have some side effects. However, most people who get vaccinated have only mild and temporary side effects or none at all. The most common side effects include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19 and usually go away on their own within a few days. It’s a good reminder that the updated COVID-19 vaccine protects you, so you don’t have to miss even more workdays if you do get sick with COVID-19.

• I still think the COVID-19 vaccines are too new. How can I know they are safe?

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of millions of people in the United States received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. The CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other federal agencies continue to monitor the safety of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, as they do with other vaccines.

• I’m concerned about the costs of the COVID-19 vaccine. How can I access free vaccines?

• Like other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are covered by most private insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid, and will continue to be free for all children in Washington state until their 19th birthday through the Washington State Childhood Vaccine Program and Vaccines for Children program regardless of insurance or immigrant status. When you take your child (aged 0-18 years) to a health clinic in Washington state, you might have to pay a small charge for the office visit, but you will not be charged for the vaccine itself. View participating healthcare providers on the Washington State Department of Health’s Vaccine Provider Map.

• I don’t know where to get a COVID-19 vaccine near me. Where can I find help?

• Please visit your local pharmacy or clinic to get the latest updated COVID-19 vaccine or check out our events calendar below to visit a vaccination event happening near you.