Excuse me…are you fully vaccinated?

Thanks to increased vaccination rates, more people than ever are protected from COVID-19. But there are still other challenges: our kids under 12 are still not eligible for vaccines, variants are spreading at increasing rates, and some of our friends and family are not fully vaccinated yet.

Understanding the vaccination status among your inner and outer circles can be helpful for planning social interactions. But we understand it’s not always an easy topic to bring up.

Here are some ways to have a healthy dialogue:

Ask the question

Seeing friends and family for the first time in way too long? Going on a first date? Ask about vaccination status when you’re making plans. Are you available Friday at 7:00? Can you bring a salad? Oh, and just so I know how to plan safely, are you fully vaccinated yet?

• If you know some of your guests have not been fully vaccinated yet, consider moving your gathering outdoors.
• Remind everyone, especially unvaccinated people, to bring a clean mask to wear if they need to go indoors together.
• Consider how many unvaccinated people–including young children — have been invited. Try not to create a large group of unvaccinated people from various households.

Listen with compassion

It may be disappointing for us to hear that a friend or loved one isn’t fully vaccinated yet. But, be sure to respond to this news with some compassion and in a non-judgmental way.

• Don’t: Assume you know why someone isn’t fully vaccinated yet. There are many possible reasons.
• Don’t: Assume someone who isn’t fully vaccinated yet is opposed to vaccines.
• Don’t: Blame or judge your loved one. It won’t help encourage them to get vaccinated, and it won’t encourage them to listen to you.
• Do: Remember that not everyone has easy access to good information about the vaccines. There is so much misinformation circulating that it can be difficult to tell the difference between truth and fiction. Encourage them to seek out fact-based sources for COVID-19 vaccine information, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Washington State Department of Health at COVIDVaccineWA.org.
• Do: Remember that not everyone has easy access to these vaccines –or any health care, for that matter. Some people don’t have easy transportation to vaccine clinics. Some people have jobs that make it difficult to take the time to get a vaccine. Some people have child care limitations. And some people are struggling with mental health issues like anxiety or depression, and just can’t do one more thing right now. Consider sharing the DOH vaccine hotline information if your loved one is facing one of the above. They can call the hotline at 1–833-VAX-HELP (language assistance available) to get help with finding an appointment, transportation, and overcoming other common barriers.

Share your story

In a non-judgmental way, share why you chose to get vaccinated. You don’t need to convince someone to make an appointment right now, but it’s important to add your thoughts to the information and perspectives they may be considering. Give specific, personal reasons like:

• I feel safer having had it.
• I feel more comfortable going indoors without my mask on knowing I’m vaccinated.
• I‘m ready to travel and I feel safer getting on an airplane knowing I’m vaccinated.
• I want to see my friends and family without worrying about getting them sick.
• I have a health condition that puts me at higher risk for COVID-19, and I wanted to protect myself.
• I feel like this is one way I can help bring the pandemic to an end and get the world back to normal.

Communication is key. Although these conversations can be difficult, they’re important for protecting each other as we resume our daily activities. So, don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family if they’ve been vaccinated yet. Just be tactful and show some grace when you do. Have a safe and fun summer!

More information

Information in this blog changes rapidly. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment.

The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.

WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.