Who can get vaccinated?
Vaccinations are free for all Californians age 5 and older.
Your insurance or immigration status does not affect this. No one will ask about your immigration status when you are vaccinated.
vaccinating children
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children 12 and older. Low-dose Pfizer vaccine is now authorized for children ages 5 to 11.
Both vaccines are safe and effective in protecting children from COVID-19.
How the COVID-19 Vaccine Works
These vaccines are very effective in preventing severe COVID-19 disease. During clinical trials of such vaccines, no fully vaccinated people have died from COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine directs our immune system to fight the COVID-19 virus. It takes a few weeks for a person to build up immunity to the virus after receiving this vaccine. This means that you can still get COVID-19 after you have been vaccinated.
what we already know
- Vaccination can prevent nearly all hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19. Cases of illness after vaccination rarely, but there are.
- Vaccination can slow the spread of COVID-19.
- COVID-19 vaccine is effective against various virus variants, including Delta.
- People with weakened immune systems may not be protected even if they are fully vaccinated.
What we still have to prove
- How long is the protection period of the COVID-19 vaccine
after vaccination
If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume your pre-pandemic activities. But please be mindful of the public health advice that still applies to you.
See more information published by CDPH:
- Get the Facts on Vaccines
- Which Vaccine is Right for YouPDF
Vaccines and Variants
Vaccination is very effective against variants of COVID-19 such as Delta. We don’t yet know how effective the vaccine will be against newer variants like Omicron.
The best steps we can take to limit the spread and mutation of the virus are:
- vaccination
- Booster shots when eligible
Check out the variants currently appearing in California.
More information on COVID-19 variants from CDPH:
- tracking variant
- Fact Sheet: Omicron Variants
Boosters and extra doses
Reinforcing needle
The booster shot is currently available to anyone over the age of 12.
Get a booster shot as soon as you qualify:
- Booster shot after 5 months if you have been vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer
- If you have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a booster shot after 2 months
Your booster shot can be different from the brand of vaccine you originally received. It is strongly recommended that people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine get a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot. People aged 12 to 17 should only receive Pfizer booster shots.
To book your booster shot or find a walk-in clinic, visit My Turn.
Learn why the CDC is calling you to keep your vaccinations up to date.
Learn more facts about booster shots from CDPHAnd questions and answers about strengthening needles.
extra dose
People who are immunocompromised can receive additional doses of Pfizer or Moderna.
Such persons include:
- People who are on active cancer treatment for tumor or blood cancer
- People who have had an organ transplant and are taking medication to suppress their immune system
- People who have had a stem cell transplant within the past 2 years or are taking medication to suppress their immune system
- People with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (eg, patients with DiGeorge syndrome, patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- People with advanced or untreated HIV
- People who are actively treated with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune response
Children 5 to 11 years of age with these conditions can receive additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Ask your doctor if additional doses are suitable for you. If you are eligible, you can go to My TurnMake an appointment for a vaccination.
See Questions and Answers About Additional Dosages.
digital vaccine record
You can now get a digital copy of your vaccination records. This record is called the Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record(Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record, DCVR). You can get the record if:
- you have been vaccinated in California, and
- Your information matches the information recorded in the state’s immunization system.
How to get vaccine records:
- Go to myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov
- Enter your:
- Name
- date of birth
- The email address or phone number you recorded when you were vaccinated
- Create a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Digital copies can be used to prove vaccinations.
To learn more about your digital vaccine record, see FAQs.
If you’re having trouble getting your records
If you do not have access to your vaccine records, you may need to correct or add some information. Follow cdph.ca.gov/covidvaccinerecordTroubleshooting tips in.
Things that may prevent you from getting your COVID-19 vaccination record:
- Your vaccination site is not reporting to the state immunization system
- Your vaccination site is not reporting that you have been vaccinated
- The information you entered does not match the information you recorded at the registry.
To correct or update your vaccine records, use My Turn’s virtual assistant to start live chat.
For more information, see CDPH’s Vaccine Recording Guidelines and Standards.
side effect
You may experience some mild side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This is normal for your body to build up its immune mechanisms. More serious side effects are rare.
minor side effects
Common minor side effects are as follows:
- The injection site may be sore, red, or swollen
- Feeling tired, headache, muscle pain, chills, heat, or nausea
Side effects may prevent you from doing your daily activities, but these symptoms usually go away after a few days. Others have had no side effects.
rare but serious side effects
thrombus
Rarely, women under the age of 50 may develop blood clots with low platelets after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This risk is not present with other COVID-19 vaccines. See CDPH’s Fact Sheet: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Benefits and RisksPDF.
Myocarditis and pericarditis
Some young people develop inflammation of the heart muscle or membrane after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Still, the CDC says the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks.
Learn more in the following CDPH fact sheets:
- Benefits and Risks of the Pfizer COVID-19 VaccinePDF
- Benefits and Risks of Moderna’s COVID-19 VaccinePDF
Report vaccine side effects
If you experience side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you can report it using:
- VAERS(Reporting System for Adverse Reactions to Vaccines)
- V-safe(Health Check Tool After Vaccination)
When to contact the doctor
In most cases, it is normal to feel unwell due to pain or fever, as it shows that your body is building protective mechanisms. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider if:
- redness or tenderness where you got the vaccine that gets worse 24 hours later
- You are experiencing side effects that make you worry or that don’t tend to go away after a few days
If you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and have a severe reaction, call 911 for emergency medical care. Read more at COVID-19 Vaccines and Rare Severe Allergies.
Possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine at the CDC for more information.
