Frequently asked questions about coronavirus

No, don’t delay getting a booster if you are eligible to get one.

Booster shots for ages 5-11

Children ages 5 through 11 should get a booster dose at least five months after completing the primary Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine series. A booster dose is not authorized for young children who received the primary Moderna vaccine series.

Booster shots for ages 12+

Moderna and Pfizer updated COVID-19 boosters are now available. The updated boosters, also called "bivalent" vaccines or the "Omicron booster", protect against the most common variants right now (Omicron BA.4 and BA.5) and the original variants of COVID-19.

Everyone ages 12 and older should get an updated booster:

• After completing their primary vaccine series AND
• At least 2 months since the last vaccine or booster dose

It is possible to get a negative at-home test even if you have symptoms for a couple of possible reasons:

1. Your immune system could be fighting the virus. That could prevent the virus level in your body from getting high enough for a COVID-19 test to detect. But if your immune system can’t continue to fight off the virus, you might be positive later. That’s why it’s important to repeat the test 4 to 5 days after your symptoms start. Many brands of tests come with two tests for this purpose.
2. You might not have collected enough nasal drainage when you swabbed. Carefully follow the instructions on the box to make sure that there is enough sample material from your swab.

If you are at high risk for being hospitalized for COVID-19, get tested soon and treated early. Anti-viral pills or other treatment options may lower the chances of your illness getting worse if you take them within 5 days of symptoms. Treatment is free, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Here are three ways to get treatment:

1. Speak to your healthcare provider first. They can give you a prescription that you can get filled at participating pharmacies or anywhere anti-viral pills are available.
2. Schedule a telehealth visit. If you do not have a health care provider or if a provider can’t see you within 48 hours, contact Washington State Department of Health at 1–800–525–0127, then press # or go to doh.wa.gov/Covid19Telehealth to schedule a free telehealth appointment, available in 240 languages. Patients without the ability to have a video visit can have a phone visit. If you have already been tested, you may bring your test result from an at-home (antigen) test or a testing site to your telehealth visit. The test should be taken in the treatment window within 5 days of the onset of symptoms.
3. Visit a Test to Treat clinic to receive testing and treatment in one visit. To find a clinic, enter your zip code into the Test to Treat locator or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish and more than 150 other languages.

• Local Health Officer Quarantine Directive and Amended Isolation Order – October 2022