County of Santa Clara COVID-19 Vaccine Information for the Public

​Like other vaccines, many people will receive COVID-19 vaccination through their primary care provider.  All large health systems including Kaiser, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the County’s hospitals and clinics, Stanford Healthcare, and some smaller community clinics will be allocated vaccine to vaccinate their patients as they become eligible.  We also expect that other entities like the large pharmacy chains (Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Walmart, etc.) may eventually offer COVID-19 vaccination to eligible members of the public. ​​​

The federal government has created a program under which CVS and Walgreens are responsible for vaccinating residents and staff in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across the United States.  Most of these facilities in Santa Clara County are participating in this federal program, which began vaccinations in our county on December 28, 2020. The few facilities in Santa Clara County that chose not to enroll in this program will have residents and staff vaccinated through the County and its partners. ​​​

The State of California sets the number of doses of vaccine that go to each county. The County Public Health Department is then directed to apportion a subset of these doses to healthcare providers in the County, according to directions from the state and federal government. Some other organizations with facilities in Santa Clara County get additional supplies of vaccine from the state or federal government. These organizations include federal government agencies and large health care systems that operate in more than one county (including Kaiser and Sutter/Palo Alto Medical Foundation). Large retail pharmacies receive additional supplies to vaccinate people who live in certain types of nursing homes, through a program organized by the federal government.​​

The County’s website sccfreevax.org will include the latest information on vaccine eligibility. You can also talk to your healthcare provider to find out how they plan to notify you when you become eligible.​

The vaccines that have been authorized have been tested in large clinical trials with tens of thousands of volunteers to assess their safety. The FDA, CDC, and ACIP have all evaluated the trial information and determined the vaccines to be safe, effective, and of high quality. These groups are continuing to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to make sure even very rare side effects are identified and appropriate precautions are taken.

No. None of the normal steps in the vaccine vetting process were skipped in order to quickly develop these vaccines. Rapid development was possible because:

1. manufacturing started while the clinical trials were still underway (normally manufacturing doesn’t begin until after completion of the trials);
2. mRNA vaccines are faster to produce than other kinds of vaccines,
3. FDA and CDC was and is prioritizing the review process for COVID-19 vaccines: and d) researchers used existing clinical trial networks to quickly begin conducting the COVID vaccine trials.

Very effective. Clinical trials involving tens of thousands of individuals have demonstrated that both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Moderna vaccine are highly effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. After two doses, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine demonstrated 95.0% effectiveness while the Moderna vaccine showed 94.1% effectiveness. The Pfizer clinical trials included more than 43,000 participants and the Moderna trials included 30,000.​

1-2 weeks after receiving the second dose.​

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized for administration in patients aged 16 years and older. The Moderna vaccine is only authorized in patients aged 18 years and older. Clinical trials are underway for children, but at this point there is no vaccine approved for children.​

Serious side effects are very rare. Many vaccine recipients experience mild or moderate side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building protection. Common side effects include mild to moderate pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site and/or mild to moderate flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, fatigue, headache, chills). All side effects should resolve in a few days.​

People who don’t have a doctor and/or don’t have health insurance can be vaccinated through the County’s Health and Hospital System, El Camino Health, and other providers offering vaccination to the broader community. See above to check your eligibility and the latest options for how to book an appointment for your vaccination.​

Patients with underlying medical conditions can receive the vaccine. In fact, it is important that this group be vaccinated because they are at increased risk of having severe COVID-19 illness. Immunocompromised individuals (e.g. persons living with HIV, transplant recipients, and those taking immunosuppressive medications) may receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. However, because sufficient data is not yet available to establish vaccine safety and efficacy in this population, immunocompromised individuals should be counseled by their healthcare provider on the risks and benefits of receiving the vaccine and the precautions to take after receiving the vaccine.​

Women who are pregnant or breast feeding (and are part of an eligible group) can receive the vaccine. However, since vaccine clinical trials did not include pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers, there is limited direct data on COVID-19 vaccine safety for this population. A discussion with your healthcare provider on the risks and benefits of vaccination is therefore recommended. ​

Individuals who have had a severe or immediate allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components should not receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccination at this time, unless they have been evaluated by an allergist-immunologist and it is determined that the person can safely receive the vaccine. Persons with immediate allergic reactions to polysorbate or polyethylene glycol [PEG] should also not receive the vaccine.

Individuals with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any other vaccine or injectable therapy (e.g., intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous) should consult with a healthcare provider before receiving the vaccine.

In addition, individuals with active COVID-19 disease should not receive the vaccine until completion of their isolation period and resolution of their symptoms.

Note: Individuals with a history of allergic reactions that are not related to vaccines or injectable therapies (e.g., food, pet, venom, environmental, latex allergies, or oral medications) can receive the COVID-19 vaccines. ​

Even if you received the vaccine, it is still possible to be infected with COVID-19 since no vaccine is 100% effective. In addition, it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it is possible a person could contract COVID-19 shortly after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Also, while we know the vaccine is effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19, we don’t yet know whether it prevents you from becoming infected but asymptomatic. For all of these reasons, it is critical that everyone (including those who have been vaccinated) continue wearing face coverings and maintain social distance. It will take many months before we reach the level of vaccination needed in the community to provide community protection.​

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had a COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatment you received or if you have more questions about getting a vaccine. Experts do not yet know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Note: Some healthcare organizations may prioritize for vaccination those who have not had a previous infection in the prior 90 days.​

Yes, the COVID-19 testing recommendation remain the same. Regular testing for frontline workers and others with exposure to the public continues to be particularly important.​

Supplies do not generally permit a choice of the type of vaccine that individuals receive. Many facilities lack the infrastructure to handle the Pfizer vaccine, for example. Depending on where you receive the vaccine, you may or may not be given a choice of options.​

Yes. While clinical trials showed that the vaccine is about 95% effective at preventing symptomatic illness from COVID-19, less is known about the vaccines’ effectiveness at preventing transmission. In other words, getting vaccinated will help protect you from COVID-19, but it may not prevent you from spreading it. This is why it is important to continue wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance, to prevent potential spread to others who have not been vaccinated.​

Yes. The CDC recommends that all persons who have been exposed to COVID-19 in the past be vaccinated. Individuals should complete their quarantine period prior to visiting a vaccination site.​

Yes, family members who provide the equivalent of nursing care to a family member with a significant intellectual or development disability, such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy, may be vaccinated under Phase 1A.  To demonstrate eligibility, a family member can provide documents from their California regional center or medical documentation verifying the qualifying condition of the household member who has an intellectual or developmental disability and attest that they provide in-person health care to that household member.​

Not yet.  Per the State’s guidance, the County is currently vaccinating healthcare personnel and individuals 65 years of age and older who are residents of the County.  Healthcare personnel includes only people who work in healthcare settings treating human patients.  The State briefly posted, then withdrew, a broader definition that would have included veterinarians.  The County’s understanding of the State’s current guidance is that veterinarians are not included in the State’s healthcare personnel definition for Phase 1A.​

Yes. The California Department of Public Health has notified counties that mortuary or funeral home staff are included within Phase 1A.  All individuals in Phase 1A are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.​​​