What we know about the new COVID-19 vaccine: Q&A with Dr. Eric Chow

September 13, 2023.Reading time 8 minutes.

Three adults show their vaccination band aids: An older Black man with a white beard, a young woman with long brown hair and tan skin, and an older White woman with short brown and gray hair.

This week, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Eric Chow, our communicable disease expert, explains where you can get it, how cost will be covered, and why it’s important to get the new vaccine, even if you’ve already had COVID or been vaccinated.

How vaping harms students’ mental health: Tips for parents and educators

September 11, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Beginning a new school year can be stressful for students. However, it’s important to know that vapes, like cigarettes, can negatively impact students’ physical and mental health. Parents, teachers, mentors, and school administrators can offer guidance and tools to help students make informed decisions.

International Overdose Awareness Day

August 31, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose. This year’s theme is “recognizing those who go unseen” to shine a light on those affected by overdose who have gone unnoticed amid the crisis.

Making safer choices while back-to-school shopping

August 29, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

School supplies can have an impact on the health and safety of students in the classroom. Some common supplies have chemicals that can trigger asthma and other allergies. With that in mind, here are our recommendations for safer choices.

New case of Hantavirus reported in King County

August 28, 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hantavirus can cause a rare but deadly disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In Washington state, hantavirus is spread by deer mice.

Public Health is currently investigating a case in a teenage King County resident. This person was hospitalized in early August and is now recovering. The patient reported being exposed to a mouse infestation at his house in Issaquah and also bitten by a rodent in the woods in a residential area in Issaquah, Washington.

An update on COVID-19: Q&A with Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology

August 23, 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

A collage of images showing a young man doing a COVID self-test, a vaccinated woman, and a woman holding a HEPA air filter.

You may have heard reports recently of increases in cases of COVID-19 in many parts of the U.S. We talked with Public Health’s Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Dr. Eric Chow, about what’s happening with COVID-19 in King County right now.