COVID-19 Vaccine Public Advisory
Updated September 27, 2022
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Patients with a Valley primary care provider can call their office to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. All primary care clinics are offering the COVID vaccine, but not all are offering both Moderna and Pfizer. If there is a preference for one or the other, the schedulers can assist in finding the correct location.
NOTICE:
As of Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, Valley is now able to offer the new, bivalent COVID-19 booster for patients who already see a Valley primary care provider. The new vaccine protects against the original COVID-19 strain as well as the Omicron variants. You can make an appointment for a booster by calling your primary care provider’s office.
Appointments are limited, and we still encourage patients to use community pharmacies when possible.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at pharmacies throughout the community, either by walk-in or appointment. Patients can find a vaccine location close to them at the Vaccine Locator website.
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Information
The CDC currently says you are considered up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you’ve received a primary series and the most recent booster dose recommended for you. The updated bivalent vaccine booster is recommended from Pfizer-BioNTech for people 12 years old and older and from Moderna for people 18 years old and older. You can get the updated booster as soon as two months from your primary series or most recent booster shot.
Valley is currently offering first and second booster doses at our primary care clinics for those who are eligible.
To see when you are eligible to receive a first and/or second booster shot, you can find more guidance from the CDC.
COVID Boosters for Ages 5-11
As of June 8, 2022, Valley Medical Center’s primary care clinics now have COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for children ages 5 through 11. The booster should be given at least five months after a child received their primary series. Make an appointment with your child’s primary clinic provider through MyChart or by calling the clinic.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 are not eligible for the new bivalent boosters, but can receive the original Pfizer booster if they received the Pfizer vaccine for their primary series. Currently, the CDC doesn’t recommend any COVID-19 boosters for children between the ages of 6 months and four years.
To learn more about current guidance for COVID boosters, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption for Patients
The COVID-19 vaccination is a safe and effective vaccination we encourage all our patients to receive. We provide medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine for severe or immediate allergic reactions to the vaccine or its components. In the case of severe or immediate allergic reactions to other vaccinations, we recommend seeing an allergist for confirmation of the allergic reaction and exemption from COVID-19 vaccination. We do not provide medical exemptions for other medical conditions. We do not provide religious exemptions documentation.
Update Your COVID-19 Vaccination Status With Your Provider
At this time, Valley is asking patients to update their COVID vaccination status with their Valley providers. You can do this by bringing your vaccination card or records to your next appointment or send them in a message to your care team. Sharing your vaccination status is recommended but not required. Depending on what areas of care you need in the future, some patients who are not fully vaccinated or whose records are not up to date may be required to take a COVID test.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
For the most current information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the CDC, DOH, and King County COVID-19 vaccine webpages.