We know the topic of whether or not to get vaccinated can be a hot one. As you determine what the best choice for your family is, we know it can feel overwhelming. As a parent it is of the utmost concern to you to keep your family safe. What do you need to know and how can you find information to help you make the decision?
This blog is sponsored by the Snohomish Health District.
Where to Find Information
If you are looking for an easy way to find information from the CDC, FDA or WA State on vaccine safety, what emergency use authorization means, and all that goes into testing vaccines, visit: www.snohd.org/covidvaccine. You can find links to all this information under the “More Information” tab.
Where To Get A Vaccine
If you have determined you are ready to be vaccinated, there is good news about its availability. I’m sure you heard the stories of how hard it was to get or how long people waited in line, but that is no longer the case. Vaccines are more readily available now. Most pharmacies and many healthcare providers are offering vaccines without an appointment. Find information on vaccine locations!
Advice If You Are On The Fence
- Right now, the vaccine is the best line of defense we have against COVID.
- The majority of our current cases, hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated individuals.
- There’s also growing research about long-term health impacts following COVID, known as “long COVID”
- With the increasing number of variants, it’s more important than ever for as many people as possible who are eligible to get vaccinated.
- It’s safe, effective, and free…and for most people is just 15-30 minutes out of their day.
- Talk with a healthcare provider about any questions or concerns you may have or visit the Snohomish Health District website to get answers to many frequently asked questions.
What About My Kids?
- Just as with adults, it’s important for tweens, teens and young adults to get vaccinated.
- When we look at rates, 20-29 year-olds had the highest rate of infections since the pandemic began…followed by those 15-19 years old.
- Getting broad vaccine coverage in these age ranges also helps protect parents, grandparents and other elders from getting sick. It also helps protect children who are too young to get vaccinated yet.
- Those under the age of 18 do require parental or guardian consent to get vaccinated, so make sure you call ahead to know what’s needed or be present at the vaccine appointment.
- At this time, vaccines are not available for those 11 and under.
- Doctors have seen a large drop-off in routine well-child checkups during the pandemic. Now is a great time to get caught up on check-ups and other immunizations, too, especially before school starts.
The state of Washington re-opened on June 30th. If you are wondering about current information on that or what restrictions are in place, you can visit Washington Ready. It is nice to see this map of everything open!
We know these decisions are hard. Always feel free to consult with your health provider on any specific medical needs you may have. Don’t forget additional information can be found from the Snohomish Health District online, including who to contact should you want more info.
