Skip to main content
King County Logo
Apr
18

COVID-19 vaccines

  1. Home
  2. Information for...
  3. Employees
  4. Emergency information
  5. Coronavirus
  6. COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines

How, why, and when to get a COVID-19 vaccine for King County employees

Starting February 6, King County will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of Executive Branch employment. Employees who were teleworking as an accommodation will be able to return to onsite work. Vendors, volunteers, official board and commission members, and contractors no longer need to provide proof of vaccination. Employees providing healthcare services covered by federal mandate (e.g., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) or employees working in non-county facilities where outside employers require vaccination (e.g., Harborview Medical Center) will still be required to be vaccinated. These employees will be notified by their supervisor should ongoing vaccination requirements change.
vax-pic

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine helps protect yourself and your family, friends, and co-workers, especially those who may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are now authorized for emergency use for anyone aged 6 months and older. Novavax vaccine is authorized for emergency use in anyone 18 years and older. Everyone aged 5 and older should get a booster dose if it's been 5 months since your 2nd dose of Pfizer/Moderna or 2 months since your 1st dose of J&J. With so much COVID-19 spreading, don't wait to get you and your family up-to-date on vaccinations!

Protect your community today and schedule your COVID-19 vaccine. For more information on getting vaccinated, visit www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine.

Why I Vaccinate - Hana

Hana has always been afraid of needles. Learn what tips and tricks she used to help her conquer her fear and make the choice to get her COVID-19 vaccine.

Why I Vaccinate - Byron

Watch as Byron shares his COVID-19 vaccination experience and what motivated him to get the shot.

Vaccine FAQs for King County employees

Starting February 6, King County will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of Executive Branch employment. Employees who were teleworking as an accommodation will be able to return to onsite work. Vendors, volunteers, official board and commission members, and contractors no longer need to provide proof of vaccination. Employees providing healthcare services covered by federal mandate (e.g., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) or employees working in non-county facilities where outside employers require vaccination (e.g., Harborview Medical Center) will still be required to be vaccinated. These employees will be notified by their supervisor should ongoing vaccination requirements change.

After consulting with Public Health – Seattle & King County and other regional leaders, King County Executive Dow Constantine has ended the Emergency Proclamation and Orders and lifted the vaccine mandate as a condition of employment for Executive Branch employees which includes employees with the Department of Assessments, King County Elections, and Department of Judicial Administration.

The threat of COVID-19 is evolving as new more easily transmitted and aggressive variants become prevalent in our state. The Delta variant is now estimated to be responsible for more than 80% of all new infections in the U.S. and is about 50% more contagious and those infected seem to get more ill more quickly. We now have the tool of vaccine, which is the single most effective resource to combat spread, prevent illness, and death. King County has a duty to our employees to provide a work environment free of known hazards, and to reduce risk to the public we serve. 

King County values its partnerships with labor organizations, and is engaging with labor on the effects of this requirement and its implementation.

According to a new CDC study, unvaccinated individuals are more than twice as likely as those who were fully vaccinated after contracting the virus to be reinfected with COVID-19. The CDC continues to urge all eligible individuals to get vaccinated as the best way to protect themselves and their community from COVID-19.

Vaccine safety is a priority. All COVID-19 vaccines must go through arigorous and multi-step testingand evaluation process before they can be used in the U.S. This is true even when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) like with the three COVID-19 vaccines. EUAs are occasionally used during national emergencies to address an urgent health need. The FDA has issued EUAs to address anthrax, Ebola, H1N1, and other health emergencies in the past. 

You are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as you can:

  • Go to vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov to search for COVID-19 vaccine appointments near you by zip code.
  • Go to www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine for details about vaccination partnership sites throughout King County. Many don’t require appointments.
  • Call your doctor’s office or health care provider to see if they have available vaccination appointments. 
  • Whether you’re a Kaiser Permanente member or not, King County employees can follow these steps to get a COVID-19 vaccine with Kaiser Permanente.
  • For language interpretation or online help, the following hotline is available. Please say your preferred language when connected:

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is no longer a condition of employment. Therefore, employees may use accrued sick leave for the time spent getting both the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster shots.

It’s OK to have questions and concerns about vaccines. We want you to have the best information from trusted experts to help you make the decision you believe is best for you and your family.

The COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. These vaccines have been studied in clinical trials with large and diverse groups of people, of various ages, races, and ethnicities.

After vaccination, it’s important to continue COVID-19 precautions to protect co-workers, friends, and family. Please follow Public Health’s guidance here. This flyer is available in multiple languages at www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine.
expand_less