Build Immunity This Spring with Vaccines

It’s springtime in our northwest corner of the world! Daffodils, sunglasses, and shorts are optimistically out even though some days still feel like February. And the entire county is buzzing with sports energy—from rooting on the Mariners to hosting six Men’s World Cup soccer games in Seattle. It will be a historic summer in King County! But with more crowds and traveling this spring and summer come more opportunities to unknowingly spread viruses. Don’t miss out on summer fun—protect yourself and your community by staying up to date on vaccines!

COVID vaccine recommended twice a year for people age 65+

Did you know that people ages 65 and older should get two COVID shots a year, spaced about six months apart (or at least 2-3 months apart)?

Why get another COVID vaccine? People age 65 years and older have the highest rates of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 illness. Getting vaccinated lowers the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, but protection wanes after a few months. Getting another COVID vaccination approximately six months after the last one helps protect older adults from hospitalization throughout the year. And staying up to date on COVID vaccines helps protect against long COVID, a chronic condition that can include severe fatigue, difficulty thinking, and breathing problems.

Help spread the word about long COVID by sharing comic books with your community. These short comic booklets feature three stories from King County residents about their experiences with long COVID and ways to get help. Contact Public Health at vaccineinfo@kingcounty.gov if you’d like free Long COVID comics (available in English and Spanish) to share with your community.

Time to check with your healthcare provider: Are you up to date on your vaccines?

You may have heard a lot about COVID and flu this past winter, but did you know there are other vaccines that can keep you from getting really sick? Talk with your healthcare provider about which vaccines are recommended for you, such as COVID, pneumococcal (pneumonia), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles, and pertussis.

What if I don’t have a healthcare provider? 

Contact the Community Health Access Program at chap@kingcounty.gov or call 1-800-756-5437 for help enrolling in health insurance, finding a healthcare provider, or accessing vaccines. 

Do older adults need to get a vaccine to protect against measles? 

• If you were born before 1957, you are considered immune and do not need to get a measles vaccine (MMR). 
• If you were born in 1957 or later and do not have evidence of immunity against measles, you should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. 
• Some adults need two doses, separated by at least 28 days, including healthcare workers, adult students, and international travelers. If you’re planning a trip abroad, make sure you’ve had two doses of MMR in your lifetime. If not, get your second dose at least two weeks before you travel.
• If you’ve had two doses of MMR vaccine at any point in your life, you don’t need additional doses. The vaccine protection usually lasts for life.

Use this handy flowchart (available in many languages) to see if you should get a measles vaccine: I’m an adult. Should I get the MMR vaccine?

For more information about the MMR vaccine: About the measles vaccine (PHSKC)

Where can I get vaccinated? Will it cost me anything?

Vaccines are available at:

• Healthcare providers (including Community Health Centers). 

• Pharmacies. Call in advance for specific vaccine availability, cost, and to make an appointment. 

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid (Apple Health), and private health insurers. If you have Medicare, you will need Part D prescription drug coverage (or a Medicare Advantage Plan or supplemental plan with drug coverage) to cover the cost of some vaccines including RSV, shingles, and Tdap (for prevention). Contact your plan to find out which vaccines are covered.

If you are uninsured, use this map to find locations for no-cost vaccinations. Make sure to call the vaccine location in advance to ask about availability, cost, and to schedule an appointment. Most facilities require that you enroll as a patient before getting vaccinated. You may be charged an administration fee (a charge for giving the vaccine), but you don’t have to pay if you can’t afford it. Still having troubling accessing vaccines? Contact Public Health’s Immunization team at vaccineinfo@kingcounty.gov.

Where can I learn more about vaccines for older adults?

Brochures about vaccines recommended for people age 50+: Are You 50 or Older Vaccination Brochure (available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and Ukrainian)

For additional information about adult immunizations: Materials and resources on adult immunizations – PHSKC

By staying up to date on your vaccines, you can savor a Pacific Northwest spring and summer without being slowed down by illness!

Contributor Elisabeth Beaber, PhD, MPH leads the Adult Immunization Team in the Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization Section of Public Health – Seattle & King County.