doh.wa.gov Open in urlscan Pro
2a04:4e42::645  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET /search/results

<form action="/search/results" method="get" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8">
  <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-search js-form-type-search form-item-keys js-form-item-keys form-no-label form-group">
    <label for="edit-keys" class="control-label sr-only">Search</label>
    <div class="input-group"><input title="" data-drupal-selector="edit-keys" class="form-search form-control" placeholder="Search" type="search" id="edit-keys" name="keys" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" data-toggle="tooltip"
        data-original-title="Enter the terms you wish to search for."><span class="input-group-btn"><button type="submit" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit btn-primary btn icon-only" name=""><span
            class="sr-only">Search</span><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span></button></span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-actions form-group js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" id="edit-actions"></div>
</form>

Text Content

Menu
 * You & Your Family Open submenu
 * Community & Environment Open submenu
 * Licenses, Permits, & Certificates Open submenu
 * Data & Statistical Reports Open submenu
 * Emergencies Open submenu
 * For Public Health & Health Care Providers Open submenu
 * Newsroom
 * Publications
 * About Us

Close submenuYou & Your Family
 * Cannabis
 * Disability Organizations
 * Drug User Health
 * Food Safety
 * Healthy Aging
 * Healthy Home
 * Illness and Disease
 * Immunization
 * Infants and Children
 * Injury and Violence Prevention
 * Lactation
 * Men's Health
 * Nutrition and Physical Activity
 * Oral Health
 * Poisoning and Drug Overdose
 * Sexual and Reproductive Health
 * Teens and Young Adults
 * Tobacco
 * WIC
 * Women's Health

Close submenuCommunity & Environment
 * Air Quality
 * Climate and Health
 * Contaminants
 * Drinking Water
 * Essentials for Childhood Initiative
 * Food
 * Health Equity
 * Healthiest Next Generation
 * Healthy Communities Washington
 * Noise
 * One Health
 * Opioids
 * Pests
 * Radiation
 * Schools
 * Shellfish
 * Wastewater Management
 * Water Recreation
 * Worksite Wellness

Close submenuLicenses, Permits, & Certificates
 * Facilities - New, Renew or Update
 * File Complaint About Provider or Facility
 * Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Modernization Solution
 * Healthcare Professional Credentialing Requirements
 * Medical Commission
 * Nursing Commission
 * Professions - New, Renew or Update
 * Provider Credential Search
 * Vital Records

Close submenuData & Statistical Reports
 * Data Guidelines
 * Data Systems
 * Data Topics A-Z
 * Diseases and Chronic Conditions
 * Environmental Health
 * Health Behaviors
 * Health Statistics
 * Healthcare in Washington
 * Injury Violence and Poisoning
 * State Health Assessment
 * Washington Tracking Network (WTN)

Close submenuEmergencies
 * Be Prepared, Be Safe Open submenu
 * Current Hazards and Issues Open submenu
 * Emergency Contacts and Numbers

Close submenuBe Prepared, Be Safe
 * Bioterrorism and Terrorism
 * Diseases
 * Emergency Information for Specific Groups
 * Get Ready for an Emergency
 * Severe Weather and Natural Disasters

Close submenuCurrent Hazards and Issues
 * COVID-19
 * Monkeypox
 * Infant Formula Shortage
 * Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)
 * Heat
 * Smoke from Fires
 * Vaping Associated Lung Injury
 * Wildfires

Close submenuFor Public Health & Health Care Providers
 * Breastfeeding Friendly Washington
 * Clinical Laboratory Reporting
 * Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
 * Emergency Preparedness
 * Healthcare Professions and Facilities
 * Notifiable Conditions
 * Public Health Laboratories
 * Public Health System Resources and Services
 * Rural Health
 * Telehealth
 * Tribal Public Health

Skip to main content
 
Washington State Department of Health
 * Newsroom
 * Publications
 * About Us

 * Topics A-Z
 * Español

Search
Search

 * You & Your Family
    * Cannabis
    * Disability Organizations
    * Drug User Health
    * Food Safety
    * Healthy Aging
   
    * Healthy Home
    * Illness and Disease
    * Immunization
    * Infants and Children
    * Injury and Violence Prevention
   
    * Lactation
    * Men's Health
    * Nutrition and Physical Activity
    * Oral Health
    * Poisoning and Drug Overdose
   
    * Sexual and Reproductive Health
    * Teens and Young Adults
    * Tobacco
    * WIC
    * Women's Health

 * Community & Environment
    * Air Quality
    * Climate and Health
    * Contaminants
    * Drinking Water
    * Essentials for Childhood Initiative
   
    * Food
    * Health Equity
    * Healthiest Next Generation
    * Healthy Communities Washington
    * Noise
   
    * One Health
    * Opioids
    * Pests
    * Radiation
    * Schools
   
    * Shellfish
    * Wastewater Management
    * Water Recreation
    * Worksite Wellness

 * Licenses, Permits, & Certificates
    * Facilities - New, Renew or Update
    * File Complaint About Provider or Facility
   
    * Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Modernization Solution
    * Healthcare Professional Credentialing Requirements
    * Medical Commission
   
    * Nursing Commission
    * Professions - New, Renew or Update
    * Provider Credential Search
    * Vital Records

 * Data & Statistical Reports
    * Data Topics A-Z
    * Data Guidelines
    * Data Systems
   
    * Diseases and Chronic Conditions
    * Environmental Health
    * Health Behaviors
   
    * Healthcare in Washington
    * Injury Violence and Poisoning
    * Health Statistics
   
    * State Health Assessment
    * Washington Tracking Network (WTN)

 * Emergencies
    * Be Prepared, Be Safe
       * Get Ready for an Emergency
       * Emergency Information for Specific Groups
       * Severe Weather and Natural Disasters
       * Diseases
       * Bioterrorism and Terrorism
   
    * Current Hazards and Issues
       * COVID-19
       * Monkeypox
       * Infant Formula Shortage
       * Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)
       * Heat
       * Smoke from Fires
       * Vaping Associated Lung Injury
       * Wildfires
   
    * Emergency Contacts and Numbers

 * For Public Health & Health Care Providers
    * Breastfeeding Friendly Washington
    * Clinical Laboratory Reporting
    * Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
    * Emergency Preparedness
   
    * Healthcare Professions and Facilities
    * Notifiable Conditions
    * Public Health Laboratories
    * Public Health System Resources and Services
   
    * Rural Health
    * Telehealth
    * Tribal Public Health

Menu


SUBMENU

 * Vaccine Booster Doses
 * Resources and Recommendations
 * Care-a-Van
 * Dashboards and Data
 * Distribution
 * Frequently Asked Questions
 * How Vaccines Work
 * Power of Providers Initiative
 * Safety and Effectiveness
 * Second Dose
 * VACCS Center
 * Vaccinating Youth
 * Vaccination Verification
 * Vaccine Breakthrough
 * Vaccine Cost
 * Vaccine Facts

 1. Home
 2. Emergencies
 3. COVID 19
 4. Vaccine Information
 5. Vaccine Booster Doses


VACCINE INFORMATION

 * Resources and Recommendations
 * Care-a-Van
 * Dashboards and Data
 * Distribution
 * Frequently Asked Questions
 * How Vaccines Work
 * Power of Providers Initiative
 * Safety and Effectiveness
 * Second Dose
 * VACCS Center
 * Vaccinating Youth
 * Vaccination Verification
 * Vaccine Booster Doses
 * Vaccine Breakthrough
 * Vaccine Cost
 * Vaccine Facts

EnglishToggle Dropdown
 * English
 * Amharic - አማርኛ
 * Arabic - العَرَبِية
 * Armenian - հայերեն
 * Burmese - မြန်မာ
 * Catalan - Català
 * Chinese, Simplified - 简体中文
 * Chinese, Traditional - 繁體中文
 * Chuukese - Fosun Chuuk
 * Farsi - فارسی
 * French - Français
 * German - Deutsch
 * Haitian Creole - Kreyòl ayisyen
 * Hebrew - עִברִית
 * Hindi - हिन
 * Hmong - Hmoob
 * Japanese - 日本語
 * Karen - ကညီၤ
 * Khmer (Cambodian) - ភាសាខ្មែរ
 * Korean - 한국어
 * Lao - ພາສາລາວ
 * Marshallese - Kajin Ṃajōḷ
 * Mixteco Bajo - Ñuu savi
 * Nepali - नेपाल
 * Oromo - Oromiffa
 * Pashto - پښتو
 * Portuguese - Português (Brasil)
 * Punjabi - ਪੰਜਾਬ
 * Romanian - Română
 * Russian - Русский
 * Samoan - Faa-Samoa
 * Somali - Af Soomaali
 * Spanish - Español
 * Swahili - Kiswahili
 * Tagalog - Tagalog
 * Tamil - தமிழ்
 * Telugu - తెలుగ
 * Thai - ภาษาไทย
 * Tigrinya - ትግርኛ
 * Ukrainian - Українська мова
 * Urdu - اُردُو
 * Vietnamese - Tiếng Việt


VACCINE BOOSTER DOSES


Everyone 5 years and older who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is eligible
for a booster. Visit Vaccine Locator to find and schedule an appointment.

Content last updated October 19, 2022

Staying up to date with booster doses as soon as you are eligible is your best
protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated booster dose
recommendations are as follows:

 * Everyone 5 and older should receive an updated bivalent booster dose two
   months after completing their primary vaccine series or prior booster dose.
 * mRNA vaccines are preferred, but the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine is
   still available if you aren’t able or willing to get another vaccine.
 * Novavax COVID-19 boosters are available for adults if they have completed
   primary series vaccination but have not previously received a COVID-19
   booster—and if they cannot or will not receive an updated mRNA booster. 



If you received... Who should get a booster When to get a booster Which booster
to get If you received..., If you received... Pfizer-BioNTech Who should get a
booster, Who should get a booster People 5 years and older When to get a booster

At least 2 months after completing the primary series or prior booster dose

Which booster to get

People 5 years old should only receive an updated bivalent Pfizer booster

People 6 years and older should receive an updated bivalent Pfizer or Moderna
booster

When to get a booster At least 6 months after completing the primary series
Which booster to get People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax
booster If you received..., If you received... Moderna Who should get a booster,
Who should get a booster People 5 years and older When to get a booster At least
2 months after completing the primary series or prior booster dose Which booster
to get

People 5 years and old should only receive an updated bivalent Pfizer booster

People 6 years older and older should receive an updated bivalent booster dose
of Pfizer or Moderna

When to get a booster At least 6 months after completing the primary series
Which booster to get People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax
booster If you received..., If you received... Novavax Who should get a booster,
Who should get a booster People 12 years and older When to get a booster At
least 2 months after completing the primary series or prior booster dose Which
booster to get

People 12 years and older should receive an updated bivalent booster dose of
Pfizer or Moderna

When to get a booster At least 6 months after completing the primary series
Which booster to get People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax
booster If you received..., If you received... Johnson & Johnson Who should get
a booster, Who should get a booster People 18 years and older When to get a
booster At least 2 months after completing the primary series or prior booster
dose Which booster to get People 18 years and older should receive an updated
bivalent booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna When to get a booster At least 6
months after completing the primary series Which booster to get People 18 years
and older can also opt to receive a Novavax booster


DOSES FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED

If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, guidelines will vary.

If you got… Should I get an additional dose? Can I get a booster? Pfizer: Two
doses administered 21 days apart for ages 5 years and older Yes, people age 5
years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an
additional dose 28 days after their 2nd shot.

Yes, an updated bivalent mRNA booster is recommended 2 months after the last
dose to be up to date for those ages 5 and older.

People 5 years old should only receive an updated bivalent Pfizer booster.

People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax booster 6 months
after completing the primary series.

Pfizer: Three doses administered for children 6 months through 4 years old. The
first two doses are to be administered 21 days apart and the third dose 8 weeks
after the second dose. No, children 6 months through 4 years old who are
moderately or severely immunocompromised should not receive an additional
primary dose at this time. No, an mRNA booster is not recommended for children 6
months through 4 years old at this time. Moderna: Two doses administered 28 days
apart for ages 6 months and older Yes, people aged 6 months and older who are
moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional dose 28 days
after their 2nd shot.

No, an mRNA booster is not authorized for those 6 months through 4 years old at
this time.

Yes, an updated bivalent mRNA booster is recommended 2 months after the last
dose to be up to date for those 5 years and older.

People 5 years old should only receive an updated bivalent Pfizer booster.

People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax booster 6 months
after completing the primary series.

Johnson & Johnson: One dose, authorized for ages 18 and older Yes, people age 18
years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an
additional dose with mRNA vaccine 28 days after 1st dose of J&J.

Yes, an updated bivalent mRNA booster is recommended at least 2 months after the
last dose for those aged 18 and older to be up to date.

People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax booster 6 months
after completing the primary series.

Novavax: Two doses, administered 21 days apart for ages 12 and older No, people
who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should not receive an
additional primary dose at this time.

Yes, an updated bivalent mRNA booster is recommended 2 months after the last
dose to be up to date for those 12 years and older.

People 18 years and older can also opt to receive a Novavax booster 6 months
after completing the primary series.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to get the same vaccine brand for my booster dose?

You can get a different vaccine for your booster dose than the vaccine you got
for your primary series. The CDC made their decision following a careful review
of the latest data (Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, mix and match
boosters), and robust and deliberative discussion around booster shots.

People 5 years old should only receive an updated bivalent Pfizer booster.

Why are booster doses important?


Booster doses will help provide continued protection against severe disease.
Booster doses were previously recommended only for populations at high risk for
severe COVID-19, but the recommendation expanded to include everyone 5 years and
older to help increase protection against COVID-19 illness. This is especially
important with the rise of more contagious variants and cases of COVID-19
increasing across the United States.

The COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved in the United States are still very
effective at reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death
from COVID-19, even against variants. Still, the current vaccines may be
associated with a drop in protection over time. Booster doses will increase
vaccine-induced protection against COVID-19 and help immunity last longer.

Are you still vaccinating people with the primary series?

Yes. Getting everyone who is eligible vaccinated with a primary series is still
a top priority. Hospitalization rates are 10 to 22 times higher in unvaccinated
adults compared to vaccinated adults. People who are vaccinated are
significantly less likely to get seriously sick (or sick at all) from COVID-19,
compared to those who are unvaccinated.  Vaccinations can also help prevent
individuals from getting ill and developing the long-haul symptoms reported by
up to 50% of those who become ill from COVID-19.

If we need booster shots, does that mean that the vaccines aren't working?

No. The current COVID-19 vaccines we have in the U.S. are working well to
prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against variants.
However, public health experts are seeing reduced protection against mild and
moderate COVID-19 illness, especially among high-risk populations.

The updated boosters were created to help boost immunity and provide better
protection from some of the newer variants. It's important to get all
recommended doses so you have maximum protection against variants.

If I don't get a booster dose, am I still fully vaccinated?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19
vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for
you by CDC.

How do I show that I'm eligible for a booster dose?

You can self-report that you are eligible for a booster dose. You do not need to
show a recommendation from a health care provider.

Please take your vaccination card to your booster dose appointment so the
provider can first confirm that you've completed the entire primary vaccine
series. If you don't have your card, the provider can look up your record.

What’s the difference between an additional vaccine dose and a booster vaccine
dose?
 * An additional dose is for patients who completed a primary mRNA vaccine
   series (Pfizer or Moderna) but did not have a strong enough immune response. 
 * A booster dose is for patients when it’s likely that their immunity after the
   initial vaccine series waned over time.

What does it mean to be immunocompromised?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunizations
Practices (ACIP), and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup
recommend a third dose of vaccine for moderately to severely immunocompromised
people who received a two-dose mRNA series or one dose J&J vaccine.

If you have any of the following medical conditions, you are considered
moderately to severely immunocompromised and may benefit from an additional dose
of COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who:

 * Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
 * Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune
   system
 * Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking
   medicine to suppress the immune system
 * Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome,
   Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
 * Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
 * Are receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs
   that may suppress the immune response.

While the vaccines we have are 90% effective against most virus variants,
studies show that moderate to severely immunocompromised individuals do not
always build strong immunity. The third dose is not considered a booster, but an
additional dose for those who did not develop adequate immunity with the
two-dose series.

What are underlying medical conditions?

People of any age with the conditions listed below are more likely to get
severely ill from COVID-19. Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19
may:

 * Be hospitalized
 * Need intensive care
 * Require a ventilator to help them breathe
 * Die

COVID-19 vaccines (initial doses and boosters) 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.


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 * Contact Us
 * Locations and Directions
 * Jobs - Work@Health
 * Public Health Connection Blog
 * BienestarWA Blog (español)
 * Request public records
 * Rule Making


PARTNERS

 * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
 * Local Health Departments
 * Local Health Jurisdictions and Tribal Directories
 * Northwest Center for Public Health Practice
 * State Board of Health
 * Other Partners


NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

 * English
 * Español
 * Русский
 * Українська
 * Tiếng Việt
 * 한국어
 * Af‑soomaali
 * Tagalog
 * العربية
 * 中文
 * ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
 * អក្សរខ្មែរ
 * 日本語 | አማርኛ
 * Gagana fa'a Samoa
 * Kajin Ṃajōḷ


ALTERNATE FORMAT REQUESTS

For people with disabilities, Web documents in other formats are available on
request. To submit a request, please contact us at civil.rights@doh.wa.gov.


SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get email alerts based on your topic preferences.

Subscribe


SOCIAL MEDIA

 *  Facebook
 *  Twitter
 *  YouTube
 *  Instagram
 *  Medium
 *  LinkedIn

Privacy and Copyright


Close menu