Stay ahead of the class: Ways to get your family caught up on vaccinations before the new school year starts.

July 13, 2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

Now’s the perfect time to make sure your child has the vaccinations they’ll need to start the new school year off without a hitch. Not only are vaccines required for school and childcare, they’re also one of the best tools you’ve got to help your child stay healthy and thrive, this year and beyond.

The Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ends May 11, 2023. What does this mean for you?

May 8, 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began here in the US, the federal government put in place special emergency declarations that allowed them to rapidly respond to the spread of COVID-19 as well as addressing financial barriers to COVID-19-related care. On May 11, 2023, the Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration ends, which means there will be changes to how some people receive COVID-19-related care, like testing, treatment, and vaccines.

Look up immunization rates at your neighborhood school and in King County

January 12, 2023.Reading time 8 minutes.

Children wearing backpacks, running and smiling in front of a school

What percentage of children in your child’s school are vaccinated against measles? How does your school district compare to others in King County? How have student immunization rates changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic? Find this and more on Public Health’s School Immunizations Data Dashboard, recently updated to include data for the 2021-22 school year.

Why people over age 50 should get an updated COVID-19 booster before the holidays

December 5, 2022.Reading time 4 minutes.

As we get ready for our third winter holiday season with COVID-19, we’re tired of hearing about the pandemic. We would much rather focus on the truly important things in our lives—gathering with loved ones, taking time to relax and recharge, and thinking about all the things we want to make happen in the new year.

But getting sick can put a stop to those plans, and gathering indoors during the cold winter months helps COVID-19—along with RSV and flu—to spread more easily. COVID-19 continues to spread and evolve across King County and in the world around us. And if you or a loved one is over age 50, the chance of having severe disease and needing to visit the hospital is much higher.

Ask Miss Rona: Updated COVID-19 boosters

November 3, 2022.Reading time 10 minutes.

Ask Miss Rona is a Q&A series on Public Health’s Instagram account to respond to community questions related to different topic areas of COVID-19. Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for babies and young children were submitted last week by King County residents and answered by subject matter experts at Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Should I get an updated booster? We asked an expert.

September 7, 2022.Reading time 11 minutes.

There’s now an updated booster vaccine for COVID-19. We wanted to know what’s different about the updated booster shot and when to get it. So, we talked to Dr. Mark Del Beccaro, our COVID vaccine lead…