When you’re exposed to COVID-19 today in King County, it’s most likely that you’re being exposed to a highly contagious variant of the virus. Of the recent COVID-19 test samples genetically sequenced in King County, about 90 percent represent a variant of concern and not the original strain of the virus, and about 60 percent of these are the Delta variant. This is concerning because the Delta variant is so contagious.

The large majority of recent cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are among unvaccinated residents. Almost 95 percent of recent hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 in King County occurred among people who aren’t fully vaccinated.

The most important way to protect yourself and your community against COVID-19 and the particularly contagious Delta variant is to get vaccinated. Vaccines provide strong protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and variants of concern.

The COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. These vaccines have been studied in clinical trials with large and diverse groups of people, of various ages, races, and ethnicities.

And perhaps most importantly, getting a COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you and your family, friends, and co-workers, especially those who may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and those who cannot be vaccinated.

If you haven’t already been vaccinated, you can find out where to get your vaccine and find answers to your questions at www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine. All King County Executive branch employees must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, 2021.