Did you pay for a COVID-19 vaccine? Washington wants to know
The State of Washington wants to know if anyone is charged for receiving COVID-19 vaccines, which are supposed to be free for everyone living in the U.S.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner set up a website where people can file complaints related to potential vaccine charges.
“We're going to find that some people are finding some challenges that were not anticipated, and some providers and some health insurers may not have gotten the word the way they should have,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.
King County vaccination sites reopening after weather related shipping delays
Coronavirus vaccination clinics across Washington state are getting back on track after winter weather across the U.S. caused several sites to shut down.
King County's Kent and Auburn vaccinations sites closed Friday afternoon due to delayed shipments in vaccine supply. The four state-run sites were also forced to close.
VERIFY: Rare instances of vaccinated people still getting COVID are expected
There are rare instances where people who have been fully vaccinated get COVID-19 afterwards. Right now the number of cases make up less than 1% of all vaccinated people.
Experts say this is actually normal and reflects the fact that the vaccines are only about 95% effective. The rate at which vaccinated people have gotten COVID-19 is far less than the general population. The vaccine is still working thus far.
How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Washington
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released an online portal to check your eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Use the Phase Finder tool to input personal information like age, health conditions and essential worker status to determine if it's your turn.
As of Jan. 18, Washington is vaccinating people in Phase 1A and the first tier of Phase 1B. That includes:
- High-risk health care workers and first responders
- Long-term care residents
- People 65 years old and older
- People 50 years old and older in multigenerational households
If you are eligible, find a list of vaccine providers on the DOH website and information on how to make an appointment.
