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.

Lives lost but not forgotten – 2023 Indigent Remains Ceremony

September 25, 2023.Reading time 4 minutes.

Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a unique memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial. This program serves people whose families either could not be located or could not provide for the proper disposition of remains.

The next ceremony to remember these individuals will take place on Wednesday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton (100 Blaine Ave NE). It’s open to any member of the public who wishes to pay their respects.

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

September 11, 2023.Reading time 8 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.