COVID-19 Vaccines

Page Last Reviewed: October 24, 2023 at 9:46 a.m.

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Children 5 years and older, adolescents, teens and adults can get vaccinated for COVID-19 at most places you would go for a flu vaccine, like grocery stores, pharmacies and health care clinics. Grocery stores and pharmacies are less likely to vaccinate children under 5 years. 

Find locations that carry COVID-19 vaccines here. Please note, appointment availability for the updated 2023-2024 formula COVID-19 vaccine may be limited at first, as providers prepare to receive and administer the updated vaccines. 

Whatcom County Health and Community Services hosts and co-hosts multiple clinics throughout the year. Many of our clinics include updated 2023-2024 formulations of the COVID-19 vaccines along with other immunizations. A list of all Whatcom County Health and Community Services immunization clinics can be found here. Please check the website frequently for updated vaccine offerings and to review eligibility requirements.  

Insurance is not required at Whatcom County Health and Community Services clinics, but may be required at other community-hosted clinics. Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available at Whatcom County Health and Community Services clinics while supplies last.

Walk-ins are welcome, unless otherwise noted.

Where can I find the most up-to-date information about current COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in the United States?

Current recommendations for the use of the 2023-2024 formulation of Moderna COVID-19 and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine can be found on the CDC’s Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines webpage. COVID-19 Vaccine information and resources are also available through the WA Department of Health. 

The 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine formulations protect against omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. Per the CDC, everyone aged 5 years and older should receive 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least two months after getting the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. Children aged 6 months - 4 years are recommended to receive multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Please consult with your healthcare provider for additional guidance.

I am moderately or severely immunocompromised. How can I stay up to date?

The number of updated 2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for an individual who is moderately or severely immunocompromised is based on vaccination history and vaccine manufacturer.   

Per the CDC, examples of individuals with moderate and severe immunocompromising conditions and treatments include, but are not limited to, those who have:

  • been undergoing active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
  • hematologic malignancies associated with poor responses to COVID-19 vaccines regardless of current treatment status (e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia)
  • had a solid-organ transplant or an islet transplant and are taking immunosuppressive therapy
  • received chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppressive therapy)
  • moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., common variable immunodeficiency disease, severe combined immunodeficiency, DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • advanced HIV infection (people with HIV and CD4 cell counts less than 200/mm3, history of an AIDS-defining illness without immune reconstitution, or clinical manifestations of symptomatic HIV) or untreated HIV infection
  • been undergoing active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., 20 mg or more of prednisone or equivalent per day when administered for 2 or more weeks), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory (e.g., B-cell-depleting agents)

Please consult with your healthcare provider for additional guidance

Visit the CDC’s Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines page to learn more about eligibility and recommendations.

Where can I get my 5-11 year-old child vaccinated?

If your child has an established primary care provider, contact their clinic to see if they offer COVID-19 vaccines for 5 – 11-year-olds. Your child’s primary care provider can answer questions or address any concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of whether they offer the vaccine. 

If your child does not have an established primary care provider or their provider does not administer COVID-19 vaccines, most places that offer the flu vaccine (e.g., pharmacies, grocery stores, health clinics) offer COVID-19 vaccines for 5 – 11-year-olds. 

Use Vaccine Locator to find a vaccine provider that offers pediatric COVID-19 vaccines for 5-11 year-olds near you or call the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357) for assistance. 

Call takers can tell you which locations near you offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and help you schedule an appointment if needed.

This line offers English, Spanish, Russian, Punjabi and other language options.

Where can I get my 6 month - 4 year-old child vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccines are available for children 6 months to 4-year-old. Contact your child’s primary care provider for more information or to schedule a vaccine appointment for your child. 

If the vaccine is available through your child’s provider or your child does not have an established provider, you can check Vaccine Locator to schedule a vaccine appointment for your child. Please note this resource may take several days to update locations for this age group, please be patient and check often. 

Currently, pharmacies in Whatcom County do not offer vaccines to this youngest age group, but may in the future. If you are having difficulty finding a location that can vaccinate your 6 month – 4-year-old, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 360-778-6100 and asking for the Immunization nurse. 

Please also check the Whatcom County Health and Community Services immunization clinics webpage here. Please check the website frequently for updated vaccine offerings.

You may also call the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357) for assistance.

Call takers can tell you which locations near you offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and help you schedule an appointment if needed.