Archdiocese of Seattle: J&J vaccine is 'morally acceptable' if others aren’t available
The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle says it is acceptable to get the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine if alternatives are not available.
The guidance comes after Catholic leaders in several cities, including New Orleans and St. Louis, warned Catholics that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was "morally compromised," because it was produced using cell lines from aborted fetuses.
The Seattle archdiocese said it will follow guidance from the United States Conference of Bishops that says being vaccinated “can be an act of charity that serves the common good.”
However, the Archdiocese of Seattle said it encouraged Catholics to advocate for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Read more
VERIFY: People should wait to get a mammogram after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
Health experts say people should wait 4-6 weeks to get a regularly scheduled mammogram after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine because it may cause lymph nodes to swell.
Detecting a swollen lymph node in your underarm can be mistaken for breast cancer during a mammogram, radiologist Dr. Pooja Voria said.
But a person should not delay a mammogram if they detect a lump or have another concern about their breasts. Read more
Washington hits goal of 45,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per day
The Washington State Department of Health announced that for the first time, it has reached its goal to give shots to an average of 45,000 people per day for the past seven days.
More than 1.86 million doses of vaccine have been given and reported across the state, according to the state. About 676,000 people statewide have been fully vaccinated, and 1.18 million people — 15.7% of the state's population — have had at least one dose. Read more
Some critical Washington workers to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in late March
Under a projected timeline unveiled Thursday, certain critical workers in Washington are expected to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in late March and people with comorbidities are expected to become eligible in April.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced during a news conference that under the current trajectory, the state will enter Tier 2 of Phase 1B of vaccine distribution on March 22. Read more
Western Washington veterans can get vaccine through VA Puget Sound
All veterans in western Washington, of any age or health condition, who get care from VA Puget Sound are now eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine, the Veterans Affairs Department announced Thursday.
Soon, all three vaccines will be available for veterans at the Seattle and American Lake centers, as well as Silverdale and Mount Vernon clinics. Read more
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 March 3, 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
- Teachers, school staff and childcare workers
If you are eligible, find a list of vaccine providers on the DOH website and information on how to make an appointment.