Health Services Agency

We currently offer 3 vaccines:

• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine

CDC recommends that people receive the Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines if they are available. We continue to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those who prefer it or are unable to receive the Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines.

• Two doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine, 21 days (3 weeks) apart
• Two doses for the Moderna vaccine, 28 days (4 weeks) apart
• One dose for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine

If you have a moderately-to-severely weakened immune system, your healthcare provider may recommend that you receive a 3rd dose of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines. Speak with your healthcare provider to find out if you will need a 3rd dose.

Boosters of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine are now available for certain groups. Check your eligibility here.

Yes, you can get vaccinated after recovering from COVID19. At this time, it is not known how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. According to the CDC, if you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Employers may require employees to be vaccinated. Please check with your employer’s Human Resources Department for more specific information.

If your company has more than 100 employees or you work in healthcare, you may be affected by additional requirements through Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

If you work at a healthcare facility that participates in Medicare or Medicaid, you may be affected by additional requirements through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

• Getting the vaccine will NOT affect your immigration status
• U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services will not consider testing, treatment, or preventative care, including vaccines, related to COVID-19 as a part of public charge.

Wait times at vaccine clinics may differ depending on appointments and demand. Appointments are also available for your convenience. Getting vaccinated only takes a few minutes. However, individuals must remain on site after getting vaccinated for 15 minutes observation to ensure a severe allergic reaction is not experienced.

Please refer to your COVID-19 Vaccination Card for the date of your second dose. If you miss that date, visit any vaccine provider to get your second dose as soon as possible.

You should still get your second dose, even if it is late. Visit any vaccine provider to get your second dose as soon as possible.

You can now walk-in or make an appointment to get your second dose at most vaccine providers. You no longer need to return to the same location where you got your first dose. For a list of additional local providers, visit schsa.org/coronavirus/vaccine

If you received the Pfizer (Comirnaty), you’re eligible if you:

• Are aged 12 or older AND
• Received your first 2 doses at least 5 months ago.

If you received the Moderna Vaccines, you’re eligible if you:

• Are aged 18 or older AND
• Received your first 2 doses at least 5 months ago.

If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine you’re eligible if you:

• Are aged 18 or older AND
• Received your first 2 doses at least 2 months ago.

It's recommended that you receive your booster as soon as you are eligible.

No. Your booster dose doesn't need to match your original doses? For example, if you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can either receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine again or receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

You are considered boosted as soon as you receive your booster dose.

Side effects are common after getting a vaccine. It means your body is building an immune response.
Common side effects are:

• Pain and swelling on the arm where you received the shot
• Fever
• Chills
• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Body Aches
The side effects should go away within a few days.

A Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis) can happen with any vaccine. Severe Allergic Reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines usually happen within the first 30 minutes after vaccination and are very rare. After getting your vaccine, you will be asked to remain at the vaccination site for a 15-minute observation to make sure you do not have a Severe Allergic Reaction.

Tell your vaccine provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have any allergies
• have any history of allergies.

If you have a history of severe allergic reaction, you will be asked to stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes after getting vaccinated

Blood Clots that happen at the same time as low blood platelet counts (Thrombosis w/ Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, or TTS) have been seen in some people who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. TTS is very rare. Symptoms usually began 1-2 weeks after being vaccinated. Seek medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms several days after being vaccinated:

• Shortness of Breath
• Chest Pain
• Leg Swelling
• Persistent Abdominal Pain
• Severe Headaches or Blurred Vision
• Easy Bruising
• Tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site.

Inflammation of the heart (Myocarditis) and Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart (Pericarditis) has been seen is some people who got the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccines. This is very rare. Symptoms usually begin within a few days of getting vaccinated. Seek medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms several days after being vaccinated:

• Chest Pain
• Shortness of Breath
• Feelings of a fast heartbeat or a fluttering/pounding heart

• Please delay getting your vaccine if you have a fever or are currently experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms, you should get tested.
• Please delay getting your vaccine if you have recently recovered from COVID-19 and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma.
• Please contact your healthcare provider to discuss your options if you:
  1. Have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
  2. Are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system
  3. Have received another COVID-19 vaccine

No. You cannot get COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any COVID-19 virus material, live virus, or an inactivated COVID-19 virus.

No. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not cause you to test positive on a Viral COVID-19 Test that detects current infection, such as the nasal swab tests.

There is no evidence that getting the COVID-19 vaccine will make it difficult for you to have children. Vaccines are safe for people who are trying to become pregnant.

Yes, vaccines are safe for people who are currently pregnant. There is no evidence that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine has any negative effect on pregnancy. Increasing evidence shows that antibodies from vaccination may be able to cross the placenta into your baby, protecting them as soon as they are born.

Yes. Children aged 5 and older can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine.

All three vaccines are extremely effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19. All three vaccines are also effective against variants.

If you lose your vaccination card or need a replacement, please contact the vaccine provider. If your vaccine provider was Stanislaus County Public Health, please call the general COVID-19 information line (209) 558-7535.
You may also get a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

If you got the Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccine, you are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your 2nd dose.

If you got the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, you are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your single dose.

Fully vaccinated people can resume doing most activities without wearing a mask or social distancing. Visit covid19.ca.gov/safely-reopening for more information.

If you’re boosted or fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for your booster, you don’t need to quarantine. However, you should get a test on day 5 after your exposure and wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.

If you’re fully vaccinated and booster-eligible but haven’t yet received your booster, quarantine for at least 5 days after your last contact and get a test on day 5. If you do not develop symptoms and your test taken on day 5 or later is negative, you may exit quarantine. If you do not get tested, quarantine for 10 days. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days.

COVID-19 vaccines help protect against severe illness and hospitalizations. Until more people in our community get vaccinated, all layers of prevention are needed to protect ourselves and those around us.

You should follow any state and local laws and respect the policies of businesses and workplaces you visit. For example, if a store you visit requires its customers to wear masks while shopping, you should do so. We are in this together.

From 12/15/21 to 2/15/22, CDPH requires all individuals to wear masks in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Read CDPH’s Full Guidance at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19, wear a mask when around others for 10 days.

Certain precautions such as covering your coughs and washing your hands are generally healthy behaviors that should be continued.

Once fully vaccinated, you are exempt from certain requirements designed for unvaccinated travelers. However certain guidelines still apply to you:

Masks are still required on all forms of public transportation including planes, trains, and busses. Masks are also still required in transportation hubs such as airports and train stations.

If you’re traveling within the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travelling and you do not need to quarantine once you arrive. Individual states, counties, or cities may have stricter requirements.

If you are travelling internationally, follow all the guidelines set by your destination country. When you return to the US, you must show a negative test result before boarding a return flight and you should get tested after you arrive, but you do not have to quarantine. Individual states, counties, or cities may have stricter requirements.