COVID-19
General Information
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of COVID-19 (and its variants) are fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Other symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain, chills, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of taste or smell. These signs and symptoms could be mild or severe and typically appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Some people may not have any symptoms but are still able to spread the virus.
Safety precautions
Safety measure to protect you from infection include wearing a mask, keeping a social distance of at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds and spaces with no proper ventilation (i.e., windows or doors), washing and sanitizing hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting any surface you come across. Testing for COVID-19 once symptoms develop or exposure occurs is a sure way to protect yourself and those around you.
General Covid Info
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a highly contagious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. It’s part of the corona family which include common viruses that cause a variety of diseases. It was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan China and has quickly spread the world. Covid-19 quickly spreads through the droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks next to another person. A person can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
General Vaccine info
Vaccines helps the body and its immune system prepare to fight a virus before exposure. After vaccination, if the body is exposed to the virus, the immune system will be ready to fight off the infection.
COVID-19 vaccines train our bodies to develop defenses to the disease without having to get sick.The COVID vaccine contain messenger RNA that teach your body to produce harmless piece of coronavirus spike protein. The corona spike protein triggers your immune response to produce antibodies that fight with coronavirus in the future. The vaccine takes about two weeks after the second dose to become fully protected. Vaccination is available regardless of insurance, citizenship, or immigration status and FREE for everyone.
CDC recommends that people who are starting their vaccine series or getting a booster dose get either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines); however, which vaccine you can get depends upon your age. The mRNA vaccines are preferred over Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (a viral vector vaccine) in most circumstances. Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Types of Vaccines
Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are the three approved vaccines in the United States.
Pfizer Vaccine:
A two-shot does with three weeks between the first and second dose.
Moderna Vaccine:
A two-shot does with four weeks between the first and second dose. Moderna is approved for adults ages 18 and up
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine:
A single-shot with no second dose but it is highly recommended to get a booster two months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Johnson & Johnson is approved for adults ages 18 and up.
Booster Vaccines
Booster vaccines are highly recommended to ensure that the effectiveness of the vaccine does not lessen over time and to provide an additional boost of COVID-19 antibodies to protect against present and future strains of COVID-19. Booster shots are simply another dose of the vaccine and does not contain anything new or different.
Pfizer Vaccine:
A Pfizer or Moderna booster is recommend for adults (18+) five months after their second Pfizer dose. Teens (12-17) are only allowed to get a Pfizer booster five months after their second Pfizer dose.
Moderna Vaccine:
A Moderna or Pfizer booster is recommended for adults (18+) five months after their second Moderna dose.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine:
A Pfizer or Moderna booster is recommended for adults (18+) two months after their Johnson & Johnson single-dose shot.
Vaccine Information
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Get answers to frequently asked questions and bust myths about vaccines.
Your COVID-19 Toolkit
Mask
Wear a mask to protect yourself and your loved ones. Order a free mask from here Find a Mask Near You or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
Testing
COVID tests can help you know if you have COVID-19 when you have symptoms, have been exposed or are about to meet up with others.
Click on the link to your nearest COVID-19 testing locations in King County:
Or order free at Home Tests
Vaccines
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19
Find vaccine clinic near you WA Vaccine Locator
King County Public Health Centers Your COVID Vaccine
Lets Talk: Bi-weekly COVID-19 updates
Join our Bi-weekly COVID-19 updates learn COVID-19, vaccines and stay up to date.
Adult Vaccines Administered
Pediatric Vaccines Administered
Covid-19 Supplies Distributed
Questions? Contact Our Team!
Nasra Mohamed at Nasra@somalihealthboard.org
Mohamed Shidane at Shidane@somalihealthboard.org
Dr. Ahmed Ali at Somalihealthboard@gmail.com
Additional COVID-19 Resources
Free rides to and from your vaccination are offered by Lyft and Hopelink Mobility (phone: 425-943-6706).
Free childcare is available for vaccination appointments and recuperation from KinderCare (phone: 1-866-337-3105), the Learning Care Group (phone: 1-833-459-3557), and the YMCA (contact your local YMCA to learn more).
Assistance is available:
If you need language interpretation or online help, call the Somali Health Board COVID-19 number: 206-477-3977, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or King County COVID-19 Call Center: 206-477-3977, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Please say your preferred language when connected.
If you have a disability and need accommodation, email publichealthaccommodations@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-3977.
Contact Us
Any questions regarding COVID or SHB’s effort’s against COVID-19?
Email Address
somalihealthboard@gmail.com
Call Us
253-277-7563
Visit Us
545 Andover Park West Suite 105, Tukwila, WA 98188
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm