Washington public health updates
Visit these trusted resources for the information you need to keep yourself, your family, and your community safer.
Vaccination News
Washingtonians can get COVID-19 vaccines…and they’re covered
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) currently has guidelines, called a “standing order,” that make it easy for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The order states that anyone 6 months and older is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against severe illness, hospitalization, or death. This includes healthy adults, pregnant people, children, and those with chronic conditions.
For more information, please visit the DOH’s COVID-19 page.
Note: Washington’s standing order may differ from federal guidelines.
What does this “standing order” mean?
The order means most people can go to a pharmacy or clinic and receive a COVID-19 vaccine without needing a prescription.
To avoid confusion—especially since Washington’s guidelines may differ from federal recommendations—the DOH suggests bringing a paper or digital copy of the standing order to your appointment.
Should I get my flu shot?
The Washington DOH still recommends that everyone over 6 months receive a yearly flu shot.
It’s best to get your flu shot before flu season, typically in September and October. For more on the flu shot, please see our article on why the flu shot is so important to public health.
Are there other vaccines I should get for the winter virus season?
The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), a coalition of Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii that was formed to coordinate science-based vaccine guidance, has issued immunization recommendations for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season.
The WCHA recommends COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines for certain age and risk groups. For more information, please see the WCHA vaccination recommendation chart.
Are recommended vaccines still free or covered by health insurance?
Yes. In the State of Washington, recommended vaccines are available at no cost to you. That includes the COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, measles vaccines, RSV vaccine, and others—regardless of any changes at the federal level.
If you have any questions about a specific vaccine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Weather and Natural Disasters
Earthquake safety
Extreme weather safety
Latest Washington health advisories
These public health advisories are affecting Washington right now.
See the Washington Department of Health emergency website for more information.
Other Public Health alerts
In some cases, there are alerts from the Washington State Department of Health that can affect the health of you and your family related to food or drinking water safety.
You can check for alerts at the websites below:
Wildfire smoke safety
The dangers of outdoor smoke
Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems.
The main sources of outdoor smoke in Washington are:
- Wildfires
- Wood stoves, pellet stoves, and fireplaces
- Agricultural burning
- Prescribed fires (used to manage forests)
Poor air quality can irritate and damage lungs, especially for people who have congestive heart failure, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other heart or breathing conditions. Exposure can also cause a fast heart rate, chest pain, trouble breathing, and asthma attacks.
People with heart or respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly are most at risk for poor air quality from wildfire smoke. However, smoky air can affect you even if you’re not in a high-risk group, causing sore throat, headaches, runny nose, and fatigue.
What you can do about wildfire smoke
When smoke arrives it’s important to reduce exposure by staying up to date on the forecast and air quality index, limiting time outside, closing windows and doors, and keeping indoor air as clean as possible.
After several days smoke can enter homes and buildings through leaky gaps in windows and doors. Having a way to filter indoor air will benefit your health.
It’s key to buy supplies in advance because they often sell out quickly when it’s smoky out.
Filter indoor air by using a:
- DIY box fan filter
- HVAC system with MERV 13 filter
- HEPA portable air cleaner
Smoke safety resources
You can stay updated on wildfires, air quality, the forecast, and health information on the WA Smoke Blog.
For more information on how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, visit the DOH’s Smoke from Fires webpage.
Learn some steps you can take to stay healthy when the air quality is low on CHPW Connections.
Questions?
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