Here's what you need to know about King County’s COVID vaccine or test requirement starting Oct. 25

Starting Oct. 25, patrons entering most indoor businesses in King County will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit a negative COVID test.

King County health officials and elected leaders announced the order last month, saying it was a logical next step in combating the spread of the coronavirus — especially the highly contagious delta variant, which over the past few months has helped make the COVID-19 pandemic the deadliest in U.S. history.

“Though this may seem like a hassle, this extra step is crucial in the fight to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants,” the Washington State Department of Health said in its proof of vaccination guidance. “And it can help you get back to doing the things you love, safely.”

The order is not permanent. King County officials said they expect to reassess the need for the order at least six months after it goes into effect, which would be April 25, 2022, if the order goes into effect on Oct. 25 as expected.

The order applies to patrons ages 12 and older since children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Employees of an indoor venue covered by the order are exempt while entering the business for work.

The requirement is similar to policies already in place in cities like New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. But how will it work in Seattle?

Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new King County order starting Oct. 25.

Where will I have to show proof?

The order covers most indoor businesses. That includes restaurants, bars, gyms, museums, conferences, conventions, concert venues, movie theaters, stadiums and arenas. The order also applies to outdoor events of 500 people or more.

Does the order apply to outdoor dining?

The order does not apply to patrons who elect to dine outdoors while at a restaurant or customers picking up takeout orders. Restaurants or bars with 12 or fewer seats will also not be subject to the Oct. 25 order. A separate order for those establishments will go into effect on Dec. 6.

What counts as proof of vaccination?

The easiest way is to show your CDC-issued vaccination card, or a photo of it. However, if your card was lost or destroyed, the following are also accepted as proof of vaccination in Washington:

- A printout from the Washington State Immunization Information System.
- A verified electronic medical record printout from your medical provider.
- A “Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination” from MyIR Mobile (print or screenshot)
- A QR Code from the MyIR Mobile or a QR code displayed on a mobile app from an endorsed partner of MyIR Mobile.

According to the order, patrons are not required to show personal identification with their proof of vaccination.

What if I’m not vaccinated?

Individuals who aren’t vaccinated may still enter indoor businesses as long as they can show a negative PCR COVID test taken at least 72 hours before entering the venue. Some businesses will have on-site rapid tests available. If a person’s rapid test comes back negative — results are typically available within 15 minutes — they will be allowed to enter the business.

When should I start the vaccination process?

Depending on which vaccine you get, there is still time to get fully vaccinated before Oct. 25.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is administered in one dose, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are administered in two. According to the CDC, a person is fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and two weeks after receiving the second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.  

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require time between doses — three weeks for Pfizer, four for Moderna — so it’s too late to receive either of those inoculations to be considered fully vaccinated by Oct. 25. However, if you get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Monday — Oct. 11 — you will be considered fully vaccinated by the time the order goes into effect.

If you get your first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Oct. 5, the earliest you can be considered fully vaccinated is Nov. 9. If you get your first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Oct. 5, the earliest you can be considered fully vaccinated is Nov. 16.

Where can I get a vaccine?

You can receive one from your health care provider. Shots are also widely available at CVS, Walgreens and from in-store pharmacies at grocery stores like Safeway and Walmart. Additionally, King County recently reopened 17 of its government-operated vaccine clinics throughout the area.

COVID vaccines are free and do not require health insurance.

You can make an appointment by visiting King County’s website or vaccines.gov.