Explore 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Information Updated: November 9, 2021 COVID-19 vaccine information All available COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective at reducing the risk of COVID-19. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others. The vaccine is the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death, while helping to reduce the symptoms of infection and speed recovery. Since we began administering COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December 2020, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is pleased to have provided over 300,000 vaccine doses As availability of vaccine providers across the region has increased, the demand for large scale vaccination events has decreased. For information about vaccine availability near you or vaccine-only appointments we recommend visiting vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov. Some of our Franciscan Medical Group clinics are now offering vaccine appointments for current patients. Current Virginia Mason Franciscan Health patients can call their primary care office or Franciscan Medical Group provider directly to see if they are scheduling vaccination appointments. Appointment availability will vary by location. Patients who are looking for their COVID-19 vaccination records should visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website to access immunization information Please continue to wash your hands, wear a mask, keep physical distance from others and stay home when you are unwell Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine information Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is planning to provide vaccines across many of our pediatric and primary care clinics for our current patients, as well as through community partnerships. Please note: we do not yet have COVID-19 vaccine or appointments available for 5-11 year-old patients. We recognize this is a very exciting time for our staff, patients and community. We are working as quickly as we can to get the 5-11 year-olds in our community vaccinated. Once we receive the vaccine, our teams will work to package and distribute supply to many of our pediatric and primary care clinics and to set up vaccine schedules, generally during scheduled patient appointments. We will have more information on when appointments are available as vaccine supply is distributed. We are also supporting several public vaccination events for the community and encourage them to check availability through these offerings: City of Seattle vaccine clinic at the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle. The Amazon SuperVax clinic offers separate vaccine flows, fun giveaways, and kid-friendly entertainment State of Washington Vaccine Finder: Once appointments are available, there will be a filter for finding sites that carry the new lower dose vaccine (Filter = Pfizer-BioNTech Pediatric - 5 yrs to 11 yrs”) School vaccination sites County Public Health Public Health – Seattle & King County Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Kitsap Public Health District Snohomish Health District Community members not established with a Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Primary Care/Pediatric provider will be best served by Puget Sound community resources. Vaccine booster information The Washington State Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are recommending: If the primary vaccination was with Johnson and Johnson over 2 months ago: Anyone age 18 and older If the primary vaccination was with Pfizer or Moderna over 6 months ago: Anyone age 50 and older should get a booster Anyone age 18 and older living in a long-term care setting should get a booster Anyone age 18 or older may get a booster Mixing and Matching Anyone can choose any vaccine for the booster dose, regardless of the initial vaccine given Any vaccine booster is considered appropriate for protecting against COVID-19, and any booster produces better immunity than no booster Who needs an additional COVID-19 vaccine? Currently, the CDC is recommending a booster/third dose for the following groups of people. 1. Moderately to severely immunocompromised Patients that are moderately to severely immunocompromised who received an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) should receive a third dose of the same mRNA vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the second dose. This includes people who have: Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome) Advanced or untreated HIV infection Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response 2. Higher risk patients six months after getting second Pfizer dose Patients who completed their Pfizer vaccine series over six months ago and are: Over age 65 Resident of a long-term care facility Aged 18-64 with an underlying medical condition placing them at higher risk of a poor outcome with COVID-19. 18 years or older who work in high-risk settings Eligible patients are recommended to obtain their booster/third dose through a community vaccine provider close to home, as our hospital and clinic vaccine supply is limited. If you are an immunocompromised patient in need of a third dose, please contact your primary care provider. A booster/third dose may also be available through your Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provider as part of a routine clinic visit; however supplies are limited. Vaccination certificates and proof of vaccination Digital vaccination certificates available. Washington State COVID-19 vaccination certificates for individuals and their family members are now available through Washington MyIR mobile. Full immunization records are available at WA.myIR.net. If you received the vaccine in Washington, you can register online to access your vaccination record. The DOH has created an informational flier on handling Vax Cards, available in English and Spanish, with more languages coming soon. (Note the certificates are located on the "Documents" page once the system links your record — they are not under "Immunizations"). Individuals that are unable to match their records are encouraged to complete the MyIR Records release of information online form. Local RiteAid pharmacies are also contracted to assist in matching your records – view store locator. Vaccination exemptions Certain individuals may qualify for vaccine exemption based on particular health risk factors. Please contact your primary care team for further information regarding vaccine exemption requests. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. Scheduling a vaccine Patients interested in a COVID-19 vaccine appointment should visit the Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator tool or call 1-833-VAX-HELP (1-833-829-4357) to schedule an appointment. Availability is updated regularly. Some of our Franciscan Medical Group clinics are now offering vaccine appointments for current patients. Current Virginia Mason Franciscan Health patients can call their primary care office or Franciscan Medical Group provider directly to see if they are scheduling vaccination appointments. Appointment availability will vary by location. Patients who are looking for their COVID-19 vaccination records should visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website to access immunization information. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. Local public health departments are providing information on clinics as they are scheduled. For more information, visit: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Kitsap County Public Health Seattle & King County Public Health Resources FDA: COVID-19 Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients FDA: COVID-19 Moderna Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients CDC: Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States Washington State Department of Health Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Kitsap Public Health District King County Public Health Media resources Photos and B-Roll Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources > Vaccine Information How to Schedule Your Vaccine Second-dose Options Access Your Family's Immunization Information Frequently Asked Questions Free Community Testing Virtual Urgent Care Anti-COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies Emergency Services COVID-19 Response Volunteer Application Flu Resource Center Donations Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Safety Facts Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Safety Tips #FranciscanStrong Supporting Our Frontline Heroes About Us Ways to Give Contact Us Careers For physician referrals, class registration, and service information, please call: 1-888-825-3227 Quick Links Helpful Links for Employees Visit Our Other Franciscan Sites Twitter Youtube Linkedin Facebook Instagram © 2021 Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy