In a bid to overcome confusion, misinformation, and disinformation from federal leaders, state health officials Thursday issued a Standing Order making all Washington residents 6 months and older eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“COVID-19 vaccines are well-researched, well-tested, and have saved millions of lives around the world,” State Health Officer Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett said in a statement. “The barriers to COVID-19 vaccination are complex, and the Standing Order is just one part of the solution. We want to ensure all Washington residents have access to the protection these vaccines provide based on the best available science.”
The order takes effect immediately and is hoped to clear confusion — and provide legal protection for providers — as federal health leaders and the Trump administration have mounted a propaganda campaign around the virus and the pandemic.
Washington’s order comes as the seasonal ramp-up in cases has begun. In King County, the percent of weekly emergency room visits with a COVID-19 diagnosis has climbed back to near totals seen last fall of around 1.75% — still far below the “alert” threshold set at 2.9%.
The county says its COVID-19 vaccination rate currently hovers around 27%.
You are encouraged to consider the updated COVID vaccine along with other respiratory virus pokes as summer ends. Most insurance providers should continue to cover the vaccine and the shots are free for state Medicaid and low-cost insurance programs.
The Washington order also comes as an alliance of Western states is forming over the issues around health policy in Washington D.C. The Western Health Alliance will develop immunization guidelines “informed by respected national medical organizations,” the joint announcement from Washington, Oregon, and California reads.
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“Most insurance providers should continue to cover the vaccine.” But will they, if it is not mandated by the CDC? Unless the state is offering to pay for all vaccines (not just low-income), then they may not be available for anyone under 65 and in good health.
Good question, although I think it’s safe to say the state will pick up the tab if it comes to that. It’s not that big of an expense, especially compared to the cost of another major outbreak that requires closing stores, restaurants and the like.
Upon attempting to make an appointment with Kaiser for the vax, a notification in red appears, stating that “the production of the 2025-26 vaccine has been paused”. Nothing more. Shame on Kaiser.
It seems like it would behove providers to cover the vaccine, as i would assume its significantly cheaper than providing hospital care and emergency room visits to people who have bad outcomes after contracting the disease. I guess that’s the number crunching that some pencil pusher at Premera will be doing in the coming weeks.
File a complaint with the Attorney General, the State Insurance Commission, and with the Washington Health Department.
Our current Governor did an excellent job for advocating for Washingtonians, I would hope the current AG office has retained that know-how.
“DOH advised anyone who wants an updated COVID shot to bring a digital or printed copy of the standing order to their pharmacist or health clinic. If a pharmacy refuses to administer the vaccine, the state said, people could file a complaint with the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission or the Health Systems Quality Assurance.
For additional questions, people can email the state’s office of immunization at [email protected].”
That is from the notice the State of Washington sent out. They also suggested you take a copy of their communications to present to the pharmacist if questioned. You can find it here:
https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-09/COVID19VaccineStandingOrder.pdf
Kaiser’s member website still says they are following federal/CDC guidelines regarding the COVID vaccine, and that it’s currently not available to the general public. Will hopefully be updated shortly but I’m curious if other providers are offering the shot.
I was able to make an appointment at Walgreens on Pike. Plenty of appointments were available. During the registration they asked about underlying conditions. Not sure what would have happened if I said no, but was able choose from a lot of appointments in my case.
Seems to me that exacerbating the anxieties of the blue states is a good way to pull focus from the other issues. Covid (health) is real! Rights are real! Justice is real, but what comes first? Touché!