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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Passing on for your information.<o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>News Release: COVID-19 boosters essential for protection as omicron variant spreads across the country<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><a name="gd_top"></a></td><span style='mso-bookmark:gd_top'></span></tr></table><span style='mso-bookmark:gd_top'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;border-spacing: 0' id=flexible-abe-main-table><tr><td width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:15.0pt 0in 15.0pt 0in'></td><td style='padding:15.0pt 0in 15.0pt 0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;border-spacing: 0'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='max-width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:3.75pt 0in 0in 3.75pt'><div id=abe-column-block-0d198b92-57a4-47f9-8ca5-98eb441afc45><div id=abe-column-block-0d198b92-57a4-47f9-8ca5-98eb441afc45-padding><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2gud2EuZ292L25ld3Nyb29tIn0.Yj3NJ7e5IESEObWVJPo22VxJPTxLcOmlPzz8TP1h-vs/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l" target="_blank"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=595 height=149 style='width:6.2in;height:1.55in' id="_x0000_i1044" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WADOH/2020/01/3099192/3001613/news-release-english_crop.jpg" alt="News Release - English"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;border-spacing: 0'><tr id=abe-section-row-b8e0af8f-e2a0-4369-bc8d-0376133ec8bc><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='max-width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'><div id=abe-column-block-32db1e20-d492-4926-96b8-058549827c0c><div id=abe-column-block-32db1e20-d492-4926-96b8-058549827c0c-padding><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in'><strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>For immediate release:</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> December 6, 2021 (21-240)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Contact:</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> <a href="mailto:doh-pio@doh.wa.gov"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>DOH Communications</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Public inquiries:</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> State COVID-19 Information Hotline, 1-800-525-0127<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:13.5pt;margin-left:0in'><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>COVID-19 boosters essential for protection as omicron variant spreads across the country</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.75pt;margin-left:0in'><em><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#89A518'>Everyone 18 and older should get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible</span></em><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#89A518'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>OLYMPIA</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> – Vaccines remain the best public health tool available to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and preserve our healthcare system. The emergence of the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2gud2EuZ292L05ld3Nyb29tL0FydGljbGVzL0lELzI5OTQvT21pY3Jvbi1DT1ZJRC0xOS12YXJpYW50LWRpc2NvdmVyZWQtaW4tdGhyZWUtY291bnRpZXMtYWNyb3NzLVdhc2hpbmd0b24ifQ.6v3VF-9JbNN-eZ59mr25wqiZRQlEhijg-cYDMlkCQAU/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>omicron variant in Washington</span></a> further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and booster doses for everyone who is eligible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Boosters ensure long-lasting protection against waning immunity. All adults should make an appointment to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:11.25pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Six months after you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:11.25pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Two months after you receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>“Being fully vaccinated is not enough against this evolving virus,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “It is absolutely essential that every eligible adult receive a COVID-19 booster as soon as possible. Boosters are necessary and provide an extra layer of protection before seeing friends and family this holiday season.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson are currently testing the efficacy of their vaccines against the omicron strain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>“Washington adults should not delay receiving their booster until more is known about omicron,” Shah said. “Vaccination and boosters are the best weapons we have to fight coronavirus now – preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Vaccination and boosters are especially important for children and adults with chronic conditions that place them at higher risk for severe illness due to COVID-19. For these individuals, vaccine is potentially lifesaving. By getting vaccinated and boosted, healthy friends and family help protect the most vulnerable in our communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Vaccine supply continues to increase across the state. To keep up with booster demand, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has requested additional vaccine doses from the federal government that are scheduled to be delivered later this week. If you are unable to make an appointment at one location due to high demand, please try another. Across the state, <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2gud2EuZ292L0VtZXJnZW5jaWVzL0NPVklEMTkvRGF0YURhc2hib2FyZCJ9.BieZIoL1gn79XK2JWS_PFQDDGw02Lap1yDXl1hhvSXk/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>more than 1,245,000 people</span></a> have received an additional dose, which includes both booster shots and third doses. Boosters can be mixed and matched, which means you can get any COVID-19 vaccine available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Everyone 5 and older is currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3ZhY2NpbmVsb2NhdG9yLmRvaC53YS5nb3YvIn0.8jMtKVEn39LG71PLS_Tzq6VvWeu9zZ_819jiYSF0lXg/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>Vaccine Locator</span></a> or <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy52YWNjaW5lcy5nb3YvIn0.N9Tq5xbdmT5gGPp6p3cFHw9XQ2JQq5Np1VAaArUlA34/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>Vaccines.gov</span></a> to make an appointment today. If you have questions, visit <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTEyMDcuNDk4NzQ1MDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5kb2gud2EuZ292L0VtZXJnZW5jaWVzL0NPVklEMTkvVmFjY2luZUluZm9ybWF0aW9uL0ZyZXF1ZW50bHlBc2tlZFF1ZXN0aW9ucyJ9.M4kHnHueMYy0bsuyhnCiTXhHPS1Kggcc8FWjcw82I_U/s/1375723142/br/122415308020-l"><span style='color:#1E67B7'>DOH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions</span></a> webpage or talk to your trusted health care provider. You can also call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. 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