When can I get the updated COVID-19 booster?
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
An updated booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine is just around the corner. On Aug. 30, the FDA authorized updated booster vaccines for emergency use, but there are still a few steps left in the approval process.
Expert panels will review the applications from Pfizer and Moderna for these new booster vaccines at the end of this week and if they decide to recommend them, the updated Omicron-specific boosters could be available late next week. Read more.
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Get caught up on your preventive care
Preventive Care is a term that means routine health care services, such as check-ups, screenings, and tests, to prevent illnesses and health problems.
King County health plans have reported that preventive screenings have declined among our employee population.
Scheduling your annual well-visit with your Primary Care Provider is the best way to stay on top of your long-term health. As a King County employee, preventive screenings are 100% covered by your health plan—you pay nothing. Learn more about how to get caught up with your preventive care on the Balanced You blog.
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Metro planner wins national equity award
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
We’ve always known some pretty special people work at King County Metro, and sometimes, the larger world affirms that big time. Such is the case with planner Penny Lara, who just won a national transportation award for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Lara received the award from the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), which recognizes and honors outstanding achievements that improve transportation options.
“Penny is a dedicated professional who has been a strong and consistent voice for equity and social justice,” said Transit Supervisor Ina Percival, Lara’s manager. “We are lucky and proud to have her on our team!” Read more.
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Labor Day holiday is Monday, Sept. 5
Monday, Sept. 5 is Labor Day, and King County government offices will be closed. All offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 6.
On Sept. 5, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules.
As a reminder, starting this year King County government will observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a new annual paid holiday on the second Monday in October or Oct. 10, 2022. This new holiday will provide an opportunity for us to deepen our knowledge about our nation’s history and the institutionalized practices and policies that continue to harm Indigenous people today, and further our understanding of Indigenous heritage and culture.
If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
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Finding hope and raising awareness during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer
Chief People Officer
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and it’s a reminder for all of us of the importance of checking in on each other and seeking support in times of crisis.
We know that every year thousands of individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members suffering a tragic loss. When we lose someone to suicide, it has a deep and profound effect on us.
Suicide has warning signs, and I encourage you to take the time to learn them. Seeking support for ourselves, a loved one, or a colleague can make the world of difference. We can help one another by checking in on one another, letting people know that they are not alone, and that there are many people who care for them.
There are also a wide range of mental health resources to help us through challenging times. This year, the new 988 number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline went into effect. Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic only increased the mental health challenges we face. 988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis
- Any other kind of emotion distress.
In addition to the new crisis line, there are many more effective and compassionate resources available:
- Mental Health Benefits and Resources for King County Employees
- Mental Health Accommodations for King County employees
- Recognize the signs and know the risk factors via National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Mental Health First Aid Training.
Watch for Suicide Prevention and Awareness events throughout September, and please continue to care for yourself and lookout for one another. Together we can break the silence and stigma, and spread the message that hope, help, and support are available. Together we can prevent suicide.
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Your ID/ORCA card transit benefits and resources for a safer commute
As a King County employee, your employee ID/ORCA card opens up a world of public transit options in our region. If you’re eligible for commute benefits, one tap of your card pays your fare on the following regular services:
- Metro Transit, Sound Transit Express, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Everett Transit bus service.
- Link light rail
- Sounder train
- Seattle Streetcar
Whether it’s bus, rail, or boat, find out more about your transit options on the Employee Transportation Program webpage.
In addition to these transit options, employees can access a range of options for a safer commute, including:
- Walking Bus: With the “Walking Bus” pilot program, county employees can join their colleagues and a Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Escort each evening walking to the King Street Station and the Colman Dock from the downtown campus. In this initial pilot phase, two dedicated security escorts will depart daily, Monday-Friday, from the King County Courthouse one to the King Street Station and one to the Colman Dock ferry terminal. To King Street Station – Depart 4th Avenue Entrance at 4:40 p.m. To Colman Dock – Depart 4th Avenue Entrance at 5:05 p.m. Learn more.
- Walkpooling: Walkpools is a program where you can walk to and from work with a buddy. The program is available whether you walk long distances, walk early in the morning or late in the evening, or have to navigate transit stations. Check out our video or visit the Employee Transportation Program website for more information.
- Security escort program: Upon request, the County provides security in downtown Seattle for individuals moving between their workplace and their commute. Facilities Management Division security can escort you for several blocks from the building you work in, from downtown buildings to Goat Hill Garage or immediate vicinity bus stops. Please contact the emergency dispatch center at 206-296-5000 to arrange for a security escort whether coming in to work or leaving work. Advance notice for a Security Escort is appreciated.
- VanPool: Join an existing group or start your own—five members gets you on the road! Everything is covered. Your monthly fare includes the van, gas, insurance, maintenance, roadside assistance, plus a guaranteed ride home. See how you can join a Vanpool.
- VanShare: Vanshare is your first/last mile solution to getting to and from bus, ferry, commuter and light rail or vanpool—and for getting the last mile or so to your worksite or school destination from your transit stop. VanShares are placed at the end of a trip – e.g. for people getting off the Sounder who walk over to King Street Center garage and get into a Vanpool vehicle that takes them to their worksite. These can be set up with five or more people who want to travel together. This is the quickest solution to get started and King County covers the entire cost for King County employees, except parking. Learn more.
Find out more about programs for a safer commute on our Future of Work Personal Safety at Work page (employee access only).
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Get a flu shot this fall
Pictured: Dr. Eric J. Chow, MD, MS, MPH
Dear King County Employee,
In the past year, with so many people staying home, social distancing, and masking up, we saw relatively little flu circulating in Washington State. Now with mask mandates lifted in most settings and many people resuming in-person activities, we are likely to see flu activity ramp up this season. It’s especially important for every person to be protected before it starts to spread in our area to give your body time to build immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that, with rare exceptions, everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year, including pregnant and nursing people. Today I am asking you to get yourself and those living in your household vaccinated by the end of October.
Why flu vaccination is so important
For young children, older adults, pregnant people, people with conditions that compromise their immune systems, and even healthy people, a flu vaccine can be lifesaving.
Flu vaccination prevents millions of flu illnesses and medical visits, tens of thousands of flu hospitalizations and thousands of deaths from flu in the United States each season.
In addition, flu and COVID-19 share many symptoms and it can be complicated to distinguish between the two. Get your flu shot to prevent flu illnesses that may be confused with COVID-19 and result in unnecessary testing, treatment, or isolation.
Wearing a face mask, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette will also help to prevent spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
Getting a flu shot is easy
The county makes it free for employees and anyone covered by your benefits to get a flu shot at one of our onsite clinics, or at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy. The Balanced You team is again organizing free onsite flu shot clinics for those workers onsite. More information including the on-site flu clinic schedule can be found here. Benefits-covered employees who are telecommuting and their covered family members may find it more convenient to go to their healthcare provider’s office or a local pharmacy for their free flu shot. Learn more about how to get a flu shot through your provider or local pharmacy.
I want to reassure you of several things:
- The flu vaccine is safe – you will not get the flu from the vaccine.
- The flu vaccine is effective – it reduces your likelihood of getting the flu. Some people who get vaccinated may still get the flu, but the vaccine will help reduce the severity of your illness and your chance of needing hospitalization. When you get a flu shot, you also help prevent flu from spreading to others, especially those who are high risk for serious illness because of their age or medical conditions.
For those of you getting the flu shot onsite at work, the Balanced You team is working on cleaning and sanitation, masking, and other protocols to ensure the experience is safe. On behalf of your partners in Public Health, we thank you for taking this action.
Thank you,
Eric J. Chow, MD, MS, MPH
Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunizations, Public Health – Seattle & King County
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King County Security Tips: Vishing
Cybercriminals not only use the internet and email to gain access to sensitive information, they use telephones to their unlawful advantage. Vishing is the term for criminal attempts to influence action or gain confidential information over the phone using social engineering.
How it Works:
Criminals have the ability to call from a blocked, “spoofed,” or private number, making it easier to pose as a fellow employee, an authority figure, or any person or organization that you would commonly interact with.
Any information regarding the processes or technologies a company uses would assist in a breach of an organization. Information that you may not consider very sensitive, such as employee names, titles, or ID numbers, could certainly help these criminals.
Don’t Fall for These Phony Attempts
Think twice about giving out personal information to someone who claims to be from a different organization, or within your organization, unless you initiated the call yourself and you are certain the number called was valid. If someone contacts you requesting sensitive information, you can check the caller’s validity by asking to speak to their supervisor, or tell them you will call back, which will buy you time to investigate the request.
Vishing is not limited to gaining data from King County, as vishers are also known to prey on your personal information. Remember to stop, look, and think before answering unfamiliar numbers, or before calling phone numbers you see in emails, internet ads, or pop-ups.
For more information, contact kcitcsat@kingcounty.gov.
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Making Life Easier Benefit: Childcare and Parenting Resources
As parents are preparing for the new school year, it’s likely there is a to-do list that is piled high. Making Life Easier (MLE) provides a free childcare and parenting resource for King County employees that includes unlimited calls and instant messaging for resources and referral assistance for kids from birth to age 16.
Childcare consultants can offer resources to support parents in a number of situations like finding emergency back-up care if your school closes, volunteer opportunities for teens, play groups for infants/toddlers, and preschool recommendations.
Consultants can also search for a variety of resources for children with special needs, such as in-home caregivers, financial guidance, testing and assessment resources, and schools for exceptional children. Learn about all the parenting resources available and how to access them here.
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Husky football ticket discount for King County
Husky Football is excited to offer local government employees discounted football tickets to four great matchups this fall.
- Portland State – Saturday, Sept. 10
- Stanford – Saturday, Sept. 24
- Arizona – Saturday, Oct. 15
- Colorado – Saturday, Nov. 19
Click here to purchase tickets or for more information about other games, flex plans, season tickets, and group discounts.
See all available King County employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
Employee News 