COVID-19 Vaccines in Washington: What You Need to Know
COVID-19 vaccines are here! On this page , you’ll find resources and information about how the vaccines work, as well as Washington’s plan to distribute them. Find answers in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
When will I get the vaccine?
The state of Washington will give out the vaccine starting with communities who are most exposed to COVID-19 and/or most at risk of getting seriously ill. But eventually, anyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it.
Beginning March 31, 2021, these groups are eligible for the vaccine under Phase 1A and 1B (tiers 1-4):
- All workers at risk in health care settings
- People who live or work in long-term care facilities
- All people 60 years or older
- All people 50 years or older who also live in a multigenerational household
- Educators and school staff for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and child care workers
- High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings: agriculture; food processing and services; grocery stores; restaurants; construction; manufacturing; corrections; prisons, jails or detention centers; public transit; fishing vessel crews; remaining first responders
- People 16 years or older with two or more comorbidities, who are pregnant, or have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness
- People, staff and volunteers in certain congregate living settings: correctional facilities; groups homes for people with disabilities; settings where people experiencing homelessness live or access services
Please note that even if you are otherwise eligible, you must be 18 years or older for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 16 years or older for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
On March 31, 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that effective April 15, 2021, all Washington residents age 16 and up will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Where can I get the vaccine?
There are currently four ways for Washington residents eligible for the vaccine under Phase 1A and 1B (tiers 1-4) to get the vaccine.
Your provider or clinic
Your care provider or clinic may be able to give you the vaccine. Call them and ask!
Statewide vaccine locator tool
Use the DOH vaccine locator tool to find available COVID-19 vaccine appointments near you (within 50 miles). The vaccine locator includes real-time appointment availability and details to schedule an appointment. The tool is available in more than 30 languages.
Find a vaccine location near you ➜
By-appointment mass vaccination sites
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Washington State Department of Health (DOH), with assistance from the Washington National Guard and local and private sector partners, have launched six mass vaccination sites throughout the state. They are open by appointment only to people who pre-registered and are eligible for the vaccine under Phase 1A and 1B (tiers 1-4).
*Click a site below, then follow the directions to make an appointment.
KennewickKennewick will administer both first and second doses next week. Please make your appointment online using PrepMod. If you need help, please call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available. You will be asked to show proof of appointment when you arrive on site.
If you are arriving for your second dose, bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, which you were given when you received your first dose. This card displays your first dose date and vaccine type.
The Kennewick mass vaccination site administers Pfizer-BioNTech, which is a two-dose series authorized for people 16 and older. The second dose should be administered three weeks (21 days) after the first dose.
- Location: Benton County Fairgrounds – 1500 S Oak St, Kennewick, WA 99336. Please enter from the 10th Street parking lot entrance.
- Tue/Thu, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed/Fri, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Vaccine: Pfizer BioNTech
Ridgefield will administer both first and second doses. You are encouraged to make an appointment online using Safeway/Albertson’s registration system.
Important: Due to a change in hours, those who have a second dose appointment at the Clark County Fairgrounds between 9 – 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday will need to arrive to the site during the new operating hours listed below. If you have questions or need to reschedule your appointment, call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.
The Ridgefield mass vaccination site administers Pfizer-BioNTech, which is a two-dose series authorized for people 16 and older. The second dose should be administered three weeks (21 days) after the first dose.
- Location: Clark County Fairgrounds – 17402 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield, WA 98642
- Tue-Fri, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Vaccine: Pfizer BioNTech
The City of Seattle has four fixed vaccination sites at the Lumen Field Event Center, Rainier Beach, West Seattle, and North Seattle College. If you are eligible for the vaccine and live or work in King County you are encouraged to sign up for the notification list. Once you sign up, you’ll be notified when vaccination appointments become available at any of the City’s four fixed sites. You can also call the Seattle Customer Service Bureau at (206) 684-2489, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance. Interpretation is available over the phone.
When your vaccination appointment is made, review this webpage to ensure your visit is as seamless and safe as possible. Information is also available in printable PDF version.
Locations:
- Lumen Field Event Center – 330 S Royal Brougham Way, Seattle, WA 98134. Please park at Lumen Field Event Center Parking Garage and follow directional signage to the site.
- Rainier Beach Community Vaccination Hub – 8702 Seward Park Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
- West Seattle Community Vaccination Hub – 2801 SW Thistle St, Seattle, WA 98126
- North Seattle College Vaccination Hub – 9600 College Way North, Seattle, WA 98103. Please enter the campus using the 95th Street entrance immediately off of College Way.
Spokane are administering both first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine. Please make your first dose appointment online using Safeway/Albertson’s registration system. If you are receiving your second dose, bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, which you received when you got your first dose, and it will be honored. You can receive your second dose at the Spokane site even if you received your first dose elsewhere.
Those currently eligible for vaccine who are unable to make an appointment can utilize Spokane’s new vaccine waiting lot. The lot opens 45 minutes prior to closing time. Workers on site will administer any vaccine leftover at the end of the day, but please remember you will not be guaranteed a dose unless you have an appointment.
Spokane administers the Moderna vaccine, which is a two-dose series authorized for people 18 and older. The second dose should be administered one month (28 days) after the first dose.
- Location: Spokane Arena – 720 W Mallon Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
- Tue-Thu, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Vaccine: Moderna
Wenatchee is administering both first and second doses. You are encouraged to make an appointment online using PrepMod. If you need help, please call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.
The Wenatchee mass vaccination site administers Pfizer-BioNTech, which is a two-dose series authorized for people 16 and older. The second dose should be administered three weeks (21 days) after the first dose.
- Location: Town Toyota Center – 1300 Walla Walla Ave, Wenatchee, WA
- Mon-Thu, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Vaccine: Pfizer BioNTech
Vaccinations are available through a fixed, drive-thru vaccination site at Central Washington State Fair Park. You are encouraged to make an appointment online using PrepMod. If you need help, please call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available. You will be asked to show proof of appointment when you arrive on site.
Yakima administers the Moderna vaccine, which is a two-dose series authorized for people 18 and older. The second dose should be administered one month (28 days) after the first dose.
- Location: Central Washington State Fair Park – 1301 S Fair Ave., Yakima, WA 98901
- Mon-Wed, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thu, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fri-Sun, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Vaccine: Moderna
If you or a loved one are having trouble scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination, call 1-800-525-0127 and press # for assistance. The DOH is setting aside appointments for callers. Language assistance is available.
Clinics, pharmacies and health care providers will still be offering the vaccine. If a health care provider or pharmacy reaches out with the opportunity to get vaccinated, you should not wait to get vaccinated. Use the DOH vaccine locator tool to find available COVID-19 vaccine appointments near you that are open to the public.
Sea Mar Community Health Centers walk-in vaccinations
Sea Mar Community Health Centers are offering COVID-19 first dose vaccines for eligible patients on a walk-in basis. Before going to a clinic check the list on the Sea Mar website for vaccine availability. This list is updated as changes occur. Appointments for second doses are made after receiving the first dose.
Please note: You must arrive at the clinic before 3 p.m. in order to receive a vaccine that same day. Due to high demand, even if a clinic is listed as having vaccines available, they may run out of vaccines in the morning and may not be able to provide vaccines to everyone who walks in. We ask patients not to arrive to the clinic before 6 a.m.
Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) can also help you find out where to get vaccinated. Call Customer Service at 1-800-942-0247 (TTY Relay: Dial 7-1-1) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week.
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is here!
The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine has been approved for use by adults 18 and over in the state of Washington.
This vaccine only requires one dose, which will help people get protected against COVID-19 without having to worry about finding or scheduling an appointment for a second dose.
Like the other vaccines, the demand currently exceeds the available supply. The J&J vaccine will help — but it may take several weeks to make a significant impact in Washington.
Learn more about the J&J vaccine ➜
Frequently Asked Questions
*Click to see answers about COVID-19 vaccines in the state of Washington.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe? They were developed so fast, so how can I be sure?- There is no question that the current COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the U.S. have received shots. There’s no evidence linking COVID vaccination to any deaths.
- The technology used to develop the first two COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S., from Moderna and Pfizer, is not new. It has been studied and used for decades in other medical research.
- It’s true that these COVID vaccines were developed more quickly than other vaccines in the past. But they have been carefully tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people. There were no serious safety concerns. The test results were reviewed and approved by several independent panels of experts.
CHPW hosted a virtual expert panel to answer questions and dispel myths about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here is the full recording of the talk held on Zoom on March 31.
Conversation in English
Conversación En Español
- Some people experience mild or moderate side effects; others don’t. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. You may also have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache.
- These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection. It means the vaccine is doing its job. It does not mean you have COVID-19. If the side effects don’t go away within a few days, or you have more serious symptoms, call your doctor.
No! You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines or vaccines currently in development in the U.S. contain the live virus that causes COVID. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
Experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus again.
- Nothing. The federal government is covering the vaccine for free to all people living in the United States.
- You should not be charged any out-of-pocket costs. You should not get a bill from your provider or from the place where you got your shot.
- Some providers may bill your health insurance plan an “administration fee” for giving you the vaccine. This is separate from the cost of the vaccine itself. Health plans, like CHPW, will cover the cost of any administration fee.
- The COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people of all races and ethnicities—who gave their consent—to make sure the vaccines are safe.
- In the trials, the vaccines protected adults of different races, ethnicities, and ages from the virus.
➔ Protect Your Family – Get Vaccinated for COVID-19
➔ Proteja a su familia Vacúnese contra la COVID-19
➔ Ilaali Qoyskaaga Iska tallaal COVID-19
➔ ቤተሰብዎን ይጠብቁ የኮቪድ-19 ክትባትን ይውሰዱ
➔ 保护您的家人– 接种新冠19疫苗
➔ Bảo vệ Gia đình Quý vị Chủng ngừa COVID-19
CHPW hosted a virtual expert panel to answer questions and dispel myths about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here is the full recording of the talk held on Zoom on March 31.
Conversation in English
Conversación En Español
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) strongly recommends you talk with your health care provider about whether the vaccine is right for you, based on your risk of exposure to COVID-19.
No. This is a myth circulated online by non-scientific sources. There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility.
- No, this is not possible. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines like Pfizer’s and Moderna’s never enter the cell nucleus, where the DNA, your genetic material, lives.
- The vaccine is broken down quickly once it enters the cell and delivers the needed “message” to the cell’s machinery.
- Imagine the vaccine enters your body with an instruction manual. Your immune system memorizes the manual so it can fight COVID-19. It can’t change your DNA.
- COVID vaccines have only recently been developed, so it’s too early to know the how long they will protect you. There’s ongoing research to answer this question.
- What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
The state of Washington will give out the vaccine starting with communities who are most exposed to COVID-19 and/or most at risk of getting seriously ill. But eventually, anyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it.
Beginning March 31, 2021, these groups are eligible for the vaccine under Phase 1A and 1B (tiers 1-4):
- All workers at risk in health care settings
- People who live or work in long-term care facilities
- All people 60 years or older
- All people 50 years or older who also live in a multigenerational household
- Educators and school staff for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and child care workers
- High-risk critical workers in certain congregate settings: agriculture; food processing and services; grocery stores; restaurants; construction; manufacturing; corrections; prisons, jails or detention centers; public transit; fishing vessel crews; remaining first responders
- People 16 years or older with two or more comorbidities, who are pregnant, or have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness
- People, staff and volunteers in certain congregate living settings: correctional facilities; groups homes for people with disabilities; settings where people experiencing homelessness live or access services
Please note that even if you are otherwise eligible, you must be 18 years or older for the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 16 years or older for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.
On March 31, 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that effective April 15, 2021, all Washington residents age 16 and up will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
- Use the DOH vaccine locator tool to find available COVID-19 vaccine appointments near you (within 50 miles). The vaccine locator includes real-time appointment availability and details to schedule an appointment. The tool is available in more than 30 languages.
- You can also check with your local Community Health Center clinic or doctor’s office to see if they are offering the vaccine.
Not yet. More studies need to be done before COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for children younger than age 16.
Yes. The CDC has a webpage with vaccine information that you can view in other languages. Just click on the “Languages” tab.
➔ Protect Your Family – Get Vaccinated for COVID-19
➔ Proteja a su familia Vacúnese contra la COVID-19
➔ Ilaali Qoyskaaga Iska tallaal COVID-19
➔ ቤተሰብዎን ይጠብቁ የኮቪድ-19 ክትባትን ይውሰዱ
➔ 保护您的家人– 接种新冠19疫苗
➔ Bảo vệ Gia đình Quý vị Chủng ngừa COVID-19
CHPW hosted a virtual expert panel to answer questions and dispel myths about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here is the full recording of the talk held on Zoom on March 31.
Conversación En Español
Conversation in English
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Washington Department of Health, American Academy of Family Physicians, National Association of Community Health Centers, CNN