Planning ahead: Make back-to-school vaccination appointments now

August 17, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

School’s about more than math quizzes and book reports. It’s where kids go to play, grow, and build community. But where kids thrive, so do germs. Enter: vaccinations! Vaccinations are the body’s practice test for diseases like measles and whooping cough. That way, if the real thing shows up, kids’ immune systems know exactly what to do.

Uncertain and Ongoing: A parent’s story of Long COVID

June 24, 2026.Reading time 12 minutes.

A family with a smiling mother and father looking at their adolescent daughter who is holding two cats.

Adolescence is already an intense time for parenting, but what happens when you add a life altering condition to the mix? In this comic strip, cartoonist Summer Pierre shares her family’s many challenges navigating health and managing everyday life following her daughter’s onset of Long COVID at age 12.

How to get the COVID vaccine in King County

September 26, 2025.Reading time 5 minutes.

Middle aged person smiling with bandaid on shoulder

Getting a COVID shot this fall might look a little different from state to state, but here in Washington, it’s pretty simple: all people ages 6 months and up can get the updated (2025-26) COVID vaccine. Here’s what you need to know.

COVID vaccines for this fall: What we know so far

August 29, 2025.Reading time 14 minutes.

Image of health provider applying vaccine on patient's arm

This Q&A with Dr. Eric Chow answers questions about what we know at this point about the COVID-19 vaccine for this fall.

Healthcare organizations continue commitment to protect patients and healthcare workers with an update to masking guidelines

October 29, 2024.Reading time 3 minutes.

Healthcare systems in the Puget Sound region have updated their joint guidelines for masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory illness season. This means local healthcare facilities may require patients, visitors and employees to wear masks when respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID-19 are circulating widely in the community.

COVID-19 is rising locally: A Q&A with Dr. Chow on practical steps

July 10, 2024.Reading time 9 minutes.

You’ve probably heard that more folks are sick with COVID. Our communicable disease expert, Dr. Eric Chow, explains what we’re seeing in King County, why he’s concerned about increases in long COVID, and what “up-to-date” on vaccination means.