FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S):
Q: Can I get more than one updated COVID-19 vaccine:
Some people can get additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine:
- People aged 65 years and older may get a 2nd dose of updated Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 4 or more months after the 1st updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2 or more months after their previous vaccination.
Talk to your healthcare provider about additional updated doses.
Q: What is the difference between being "fully vaccinated" and being "up to date"?
You are up to date when you have received all COVID-19 vaccine dose(s) recommended for you by CDC. People are best protected when they "stay up to date" with COVID-19 vaccinations:
“Fully vaccinated” is not the same as having the best protection that staying up to date provides. You were “fully vaccinated” when you had completed only a primary series based on your age, health status, and vaccine type. Thus, you can be “fully vaccinated” and not have completed all vaccine doses recommended for you, which is called “up to date”. Currently, only Novavax has a recommendation for a primary series.
Q: If we need an updated COVID-19 vaccine, are the vaccines working?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, public health experts are seeing reduced protection over time against mild and moderate disease, especially among certain populations, which is why vaccination recommendations are updated.
Q: If I have received a Novavax or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, is an updated COVID-19 vaccine recommended?
People who first received a Novavax or J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
You may get the Novavax vaccine if you are unable or unwilling to receive an updated PfizerBioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and you meet the following requirements:
- You are 12 years of age or older
- You completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series at least 6 months ago
Additional information for how everyone can stay up to date.
Q: How long does protection from a COVID-19 vaccine last?
Scientists are monitoring how long COVID-19 vaccine protection lasts. Recent data show that 1 dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine better protects you against more serious illness, hospitalization, and death. People who have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine in recent months are better protected against severe illness from COVID-19 than those who have not gotten it.
CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
- Everyone 6 years or older
- Children aged 6 months - 5 years
To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829 (for English), or 882862 (for Spanish), or call 1-800-232-0233. Then, call or visit the vaccine provider’s website to make an appointment.
Q: Am I required to get vaccinated for work?
An employer may require that their workers be vaccinated. Check directly with your employer to see if they have any vaccination requirements or rules that apply to you.
Q: Can I ask my healthcare provider for a dose of COVID-19 vaccine that does not follow vaccination guidelines, sometimes called "off-label" use?
Your provider cannot give you a dose of vaccine that does not follow its specific vaccine product guidelines and requirements. All COVID-19 vaccine providers int he United States must be enrolled in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program. To participate in this program, vaccine providers sign an agreement that states they will only administer COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with program requirements and recommendations including those of CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your provider can refer to the CDC Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States for specific information on administration of COVID-19 vaccines. These guidelines are based on safety and efficacy data and are updated as new information becomes available.
Q: Are the COVID-19 vaccines for children the same ones that are given to adults?
The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, children receive a smaller and more age-appropriate dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. Making it important for your child to get the vaccine made for their age group.
Q: Why should my children and teens get vaccinated against COVID-19?
COVID-19 can make children and teens very sick and sometimes requires treatment in a hospital. Getting eligible children and teens vaccinated against COVID-19 can help keep them from getting really sick if they do get COVID-19, including protecting them from short and long-term complications and hospitalization. Vaccinating children can also help keep them in school or daycare and safely participating in sports, playdates, and other group activities.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
- Children and teens ages 6 months - 17 years
- Adults ages 18 years and older
Q: Is there any reason to wait to get my child vaccinated?
Parents and caregivers should get their child vaccinated as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated provides the best protection against serious illness if a child gets infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
However, if your child has recently had COVID-19, they still need to stay up to date with their vaccines, but you may consider delaying the next vaccine dose (whether a primary dose or booster) by 3 months from:
- when your symptoms started.
- Or, if they had no symptoms, when they first received a positive test.
Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, certain factors could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later, such as:
- personal risk of severe disease,
- or risk of disease in a loved one or close contact,
- local COVID-19 hospital admission level.
- and the most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness.
Q: Does a parent or guardian have to give consent before a child or teen can receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
There is no federal legal requirement for a parent, guardian, or caregiver to consent for COVID-19 or any other vaccination. However, depending on each state or local law, this does not mean that consent is not required for select age groups. State or local laws and policies, as well as vaccine provider policies, around minor consent for vaccination have existed for a long time and will also apply to COVID-19 vaccination of children.
For more information and FAQ's on COVID-19 vaccines, please click here.
Q: What other documents do I need to bring?
Please bring a photo ID to your appointment.
For 12-18 year olds, please bring proof of age to your appointment. The following are examples of acceptable documentation for proof of age:
- Driver's license or permit (foreign country or expired ID okay)
- California ID card or REAL ID card (from the DMV)
- Consular ID (Matricula Consular)
- Medicare card
- Military ID
- Membership card (foreign country okay if written in English)
- Passport (foreign country or expired okay)
- Birth certificate
- Medical document/records (including immunization records) from medical provider, clinic, or doctor
- Any official document that includes name and date of birth (for example, school record)
Q: Where will I be vaccinated?
When you arrive, please park in the parking lot along Ventura Blvd at one of the meters. You will be vaccinated in the pharmacy.