There is a lot of information out there about who should get a COVID-19 vaccine, which vaccine, how many doses, and when. Washington state is trying to make things clearer and more accessible. However, there are many parts to the process and things are continuing to change as respiratory illness season arrives. Here’s where you can start. 

Ask your medical provider about what vaccines you need. They’ll be able to look at your situation and health history and give you advice. They will want to evaluate your age and health status. Are you older (65+)? Are you immunocompromised or have health conditions that make COVID-19 riskier for you? They will also want to know if you've already had earlier doses. That can affect whether you need just one updated shot or more. 

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

If you know you are eligible and already know you want to get the vaccine, you should call your clinic or pharmacy and ask if they have the vaccine available (some are still waiting on supplies) and ask if they will give you the vaccine under the current WA standing order. 

Even if you choose to get the vaccine and it is available, you will also want to ask about the cost and whether your insurance will cover it. If you do not have insurance, you can find a list of locations that offer limited adult vaccines to uninsured adults here.

Guidelines sometimes differ based on age, health conditions, and what vaccine doses you’ve already had. So, what someone else needs may not be the same as what you need. 

Changes happen; authorization or federal rules can shift. Washington state is part of the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), which includes California, Oregon, and Hawaii. The WCHA provides an additional review of changes to the immunization schedules for children and adults. Once they review proposed changes, they will adopt them or provide an alternative recommendation. The WA DOH will share updated WCHA recommendations with providers.  

Even though the standing order makes things easier, not all vaccine providers have supplies yet. You will need to check where it's available near you. For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit the Washington State DOH COVID-19 Vaccine Information web page or their FAQs for the Public handout.