COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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
4. researchers used existing clinical trial networks to quickly begin conducting the COVID vaccine trials.

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 the 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. ​​​

Very effective. Clinical trials involving tens of thousands of individuals have demonstrated that the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen (also known as Johnson & Johnson) vaccines 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 Janssen/J&J vaccine, which only requires one dose, demonstrated 74.4% effectiveness against moderate and severe cases of COVID-19, with levels rising to 85.9% effectiveness in preventing severe cases after 4 weeks.​

​Starting from two weeks after receiving the second dose for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna or the single dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson​​.​​​​​

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized for administration in patients aged 16 years and older. The Moderna and Janssen/J&J vaccines are 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.​​​​

We have strong evidence that being vaccinated will prevent you from getting severely ill and dying from COVID-19. There may be a small chance that you can still get an asymptomatic infection or mild illness, but growing evidence suggests that being vaccinated makes this possibility much less likely than if you were never vaccinated.

It’s important to keep in mind that 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 because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide 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 intravenous monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID vaccine. Otherwise, you can receive a vaccine (either a first or second dose) after you have completed your isolation period. 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 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. At this time, unless a public health order or directive says otherwise, a person’s vaccination status does not exempt them from State and County public health orders and directives. The County will evaluate new data and evidence regarding the effects of vaccination as they come in, and may adjust this policy in the future.​

No, if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Your exposure occurred after 14 days and less than 90 days after the completion of your vaccine series
• You do not have any COVID-19 symptoms
• You are not an inpatient or resident in a healthcare setting or facility

Yes. At this time, the Public Health Department’s recommendations for testing and other recommendations apply even if you’ve been fully vaccinated. Regular testing for frontline workers and others with exposure to the public continues to be particularly important. Public Health will adjust its recommendations in the future based on new data and evidence as they come in.​

The State determines vaccine eligibility for all Californians and the definitions of the eligible categories for vaccination.  The State’s vaccination website contains the categories of people currently eligible for vaccination and the State’s updated COVID-19 vaccine allocation guidelines provide definitions for these categories.  Depending on vaccine supply, healthcare providers in Santa Clara County are offering vaccines to people in some or all eligible categories.  The providers listed in the “Book an Appointment” section above each list the categories of individuals they are vaccinating if you click on the provider link.​

Because vaccination eligibility for Californians and the definitions of the eligible categories are determined by the State, please contact the State for eligibility questions.  The State’s vaccination website contains the categories of people currently eligible for vaccination and the State’s updated COVID-19 vaccine allocation guidelines provides definitions for these categories. 

We know that the State’s categories and definitions can be ambiguous and difficult to follow, but unfortunately have no additional information beyond what the State has posted on its vaccination website.  If you have questions, we recommend calling the State COVID-19 Hotline at 833-422-4255 for more information.  Per the State, the call center is open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ​

To prove your eligibility at County Health System vaccination sites you will need to sign a document under penalty of perjury confirming that you meet the eligibility criteria and bring a document showing:

• That you live in Santa Clara County if you are eligible because you are:
• 50 or above
• A resident of a long-term care facility
• A resident of a congregate residential setting or unhoused or
• 16-49 and have a qualifying severe health condition or disability or illness.
• That you live or work in Santa Clara County if you are eligible because of your work in:
• Healthcare
• Education and childcare
• Emergency services
• Food and agriculture
• A congregate residential setting or
• Public transit.

Please note that the requirements at vaccination sites run by other providers, such as Kaiser, Stanford, or Palo Alto Medical Foundation, may be different.

The County understands some individuals do not have an updated photo ID or traditional paystub and will accept any reasonable document. For convenience, below are examples of documents the County will accept.

The County’s website sccfreevax.org includes the latest information on vaccine eligibility in Santa Clara County. You can also talk to your healthcare provider to find out how they plan to notify you when you become eligible.​​​  Note: All healthcare providers must follow the State’s direction on vaccine eligibility as supplies allow. The State’s vaccination website contains the categories of people currently eligible for vaccination and the State’s updated COVID-19 vaccine allocation guidelines provide definitions for these categories.​​

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.​​​​

People who provide significant in-person direct care, such as dressing, bathing feeding, and/or paramedical care, for someone over 65, blind, or disabled and not able to care for themselves, are eligible for vaccination, even if they are unpaid for the care they provide. They need to attest to this fact as part of the vaccination process.​​

​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 have been allocated vaccine to vaccinate their patients as they become eligible. Other entities like the large pharmacy chains (e.g., CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) are also beginning to offer COVID-19 vaccination to eligible members of the public.​

Yes. We all need to do our part to stay safe while we wait for vaccines to be widely available, and for a sufficient portion of the population to be vaccinated. Our county, like everyone else, has received a limited supply to start. More will come over time. This means we all need to work together to keep our risk of COVID-19 low. We can do that by protecting ourselves and others by wearing face masks, keeping our distance, and not gathering in groups, especially when indoors​​.

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.​​​​

Under the County’s ‘no wrong door’ policy, all providers (with the exception of the VA) will vaccinate eligible patients regardless of your healthcare provider or insurance. See above to check your eligibility and the latest options for how to book an appointment for your vaccination.​​​​​

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.​​​ Because all authorized vaccines are safe and effective, it is important that you are vaccinated with the first vaccine that is offered to you to ensure that you are protected as soon as possible.​

Yes, all of the County Health System vaccination sites are ADA compliant.​

Each vaccination clinic has a special workflow to ensure individuals with disabilities can safely and comfortably access the site. Each site has designated parking for anyone with mobility challenges. Wheelchairs are available as needed onsite to provide access to registration, vaccination, and observation areas to minimize distances to walk between stations.​