Vaccine Information

Current COVID-19 vaccine booster information

As we continue to address the spread of COVID-19, patients are raising questions about the benefits of receiving additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health continues to follow all Washington State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines which do not recommend booster doses at this time. There are currently no recommendations to get a dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

All of the available vaccines are safe and highly effective at reducing the risk of COVID-19. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourselves and others.

As guidance evolves, we are carefully monitoring for developments and working closely with local and state public health entities.

Scheduling a vaccine

Patients interested in a COVID-19 vaccine appointment should visit the Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator tool or call 1-833-VAX-HELP (1-833-829-4357) to schedule an appointment. Availability is updated regularly.

Some of our Franciscan Medical Group clinics are now offering vaccine appointments for current patients. Current Virginia Mason Franciscan Health patients can call their primary care office or Franciscan Medical Group provider directly to see if they are scheduling vaccination appointments. Appointment availability will vary by location.

Patients who are looking for their COVID-19 vaccination records should visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website to access immunization information.

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Community vaccination events

We are working closely with our public health and other partners to ensure all patients and community members have access to vaccine appointments. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is offering a final SuperVax event at Amazon on June 5, 2021. We are also continuing to support vaccination events in conjunction with the Sounders and Mariners.

Janssen/Johnson & Johnson

The CDC and FDA paused use of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine for a short period of time to study a small number of reports about the development of rare blood clots. Following this pause, the FDA and CDC both determined blood clots forming after Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccination is extremely rare and the vaccine remains safe and effective. People at risk for developing blood clots should talk with their provider before COVID-19 vaccination.

Local public health departments are providing information on clinics as they are scheduled. For more information, visit:

Resources

• FDA: COVID-19 Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients
• FDA: COVID-19 Moderna Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients
• CDC: Ensuring the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States
• Washington State Department of Health
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
• Kitsap Public Health District
• King County Public Health

Media resources

• Photos and B-Roll