WSU to end ‘personal or philosophical’ vaccine exemptions
Washington State University has announced students will soon no longer be able to cite a "personal or philosophical" exemption to the school’s requirement that all who attend get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Study suggests lambda variant could evade COVID-19 vaccine protection
A study published July 28 on bioRxiv by researchers in Japan found concerning data that suggests the lambda coronavirus variant may evade protection from current COVID-19 vaccines.
State Superintendent wants Inslee to require COVID-19 vaccination for K–12 school employees
Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal requested on Thursday that Gov. Jay Inslee issue an executive order to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations among all employees working in K-12 schools.
Thurston County requiring masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status
Thurston County is now the second county in Washington to issue a masking directive, which will go into effect Friday, Aug. 13 at 6 a.m.
Elective surgeries getting canceled again as Washington hospitals fill up with rising COVID cases
COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country and in Washington state, particularly as the Delta variant comes in to play.
Demonstrators back nurses denouncing vaccination requirements at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Hundreds of demonstrators lined the streets Wednesday around PeaceHealth in Bellingham supporting nurses who stand against the hospital’s requirement all healthcare workers receive a COVID vaccination.
Health experts urge pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19 right away
Health experts are recommending people who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant to get vaccinated right away.
US sending 837K Pfizer shots to Caribbean amid anti-vaccine protests
The U.S. is sending more than 800,000 Pfizer shots to Caribbean nations as the region struggles with a spike in COVID-19 cases amid violent anti-vaccine protests.
Study suggests Moderna vaccine may be more effective than Pfizer against delta variant
A preprint study raises concerns about the effectiveness of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against the delta variant, most notably Pfizer’s two-dose shot.
King County, Seattle following state's announcement requiring vaccines for most employees
King County and the city of Seattle will be requiring most county and city employees to be vaccinated in order to retain employment, beginning in October.
Employers charging unvaccinated workers higher health care costs, consultants find
Employers are beginning to tack on surcharges for workers who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, according to Merce, a global consulting firm.
Washington announces COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, health care providers
Most state workers in Washington, as well as private health care and long-term care employees, will be required to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 by Oc. 18 or will lose their jobs, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday.
COVID-19 boosters: Some in US getting extra shot without FDA approval
An untold number of Americans have managed to get COVID-19 booster shots even though the U.S. government hasn't approved them.
Elementary school teacher wins $250,000 prize in vaccine lottery for military
An elementary school teacher was the final selected winner of the $250,000 prize from the Washington military vaccine lottery, "A Heroes Thanks."
Moderna: Vaccine 93% effective up to 6 months but booster likely needed before winter
Moderna said its vaccine remained 93% effective 6 months after the second dose but believes a booster shot will “likely be necessary” going into winter.
AstraZeneca study finds small clot risk after 1st COVID-19 shot, none after 2nd
AstraZeneca said its COVID vaccine study found a slightly increased clot risk after the first dose and no increased risk after receiving the second.
Washington hospitals 'quite full' amid COVID-19 case surge
The latest COVID-19 surge in cases brought on by the highly-contagious delta variant and causing serious illness in unvaccinated people is straining Washington state’s health care system, officials said.
Biden calls on resistant governors to 'get out of the way' of COVID-19 vaccine push
President Joe Biden called the COVID-19 pandemic “largely preventable,” saying Americans need to get vaccinated as the delta variant fuels case surges across the country.
Tyson Foods, Microsoft to require vaccination for US workers
Meat processor Tyson Foods said Tuesday it will require all of its U.S. employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, becoming one of the first major employers of frontline workers to do so amid a resurgence of the virus.
Kaiser Permanente requiring COVID vaccines for all employees, physicians
Kaiser Permanente announced it will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all its employees and physicians as COVID and delta variant cases surge across the country.