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That happens.
If you’ve been watching the vaccine roll out from the sidelines, patiently awaiting your turn, it’s almost time to hit the pitch.
On April 1, all Californians aged 50 and over will be entitled to a free Vaccine against covid19.
Sure April 15, all Californians aged 16 and over will also be allowed to make an appointment for the shots.
So now is the time to make a plan, and we’re here to help you with a checklist of things to consider, links to guides and resources, and actions to take every step of the way.
Bookmark this page and reference it when you need to. Send it to your friends and family. You can even print it out and check off each of the steps as you complete them.
And if you are still not sure about something, Let us know. So far, we’ve answered hundreds of vaccine-related questions from readers. Yours could be next.
BEFORE BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT
You’re going to want to understand the process and your options (and that’s okay if you haven’t already). Start with our FAQ guide. WWhether you are new to this or just need a refresher, it will help you familiarize yourself with the offer, the science, the advice, and what to do.
► Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered – Safety, Eligibility, Access (and Much More)
And to help you tell your family and friends about vaccines, we also have this –
► How to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine with friends and family
If your questions are specifically related to your personal health or medical history, please talk to your doctor.
A friendly reminder: To do do not to have any other vaccine in the two weeks before your appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, says the CDC.
HOW TO GET AN APPOINTMENT
There are now many places to make an appointment for a free vaccine. But where should you go? It depends on where you live and, in some cases, where you want to to get your photo.
To get started, see if you can get vaccinated through your medical provider, or try the state’s online appointment system, My turn. For more details and ALLLLL the other options (with direct links and phone numbers) we have this complete guide –
► How to schedule your appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine in Los Angeles (and through SoCal)
Don’t be discouraged if you can’t get an appointment right away. Freshen up and, if possible, keep trying at different times of the day.
The space will be competitive. There will be a lot of eligible people looking for appointments and limited places.
Take the example of Los Angeles County. Public health officials estimate that 1.4 million Angelenos between the ages of 50 and 64 have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
But it is difficult to know exactly how many doses will be available to them. The officials say – if you add up all the different ways a dose ends here – about 550,000 to 600,000 doses arrived in the county in the last week of March.
And remember some of these need to be put aside as a second dose for people who got their first a few weeks ago.
So keep trying.
We sought advice from a vaccine specialist to arrange an appointment. Some of his tips include:
☐ If you can, check the different sites during the day. Large appointment batches can be released late at night, in the middle of the workday, or anywhere in between. And sometimes people cancel.
☐ If you live in one of the areas hardest hit by COVID-19, check with your local elected officials or trusted community organizations. They may know of mobile clinics in your neighborhood.
TRANSPORTATION TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
It all depends on your chosen site. Some are only accessible behind the wheel, so you will need a car. On some sites, you don’t need a car at all and can come to your appointment.
And some sites were specifically chosen because they are accessible by public transport, such as the state and federal site in Cal State LA, even if this site should close April 11.
If you don’t have access to a car, here are a few options you can consider (we’ll update this section as we get more details):
► Specifically look for sites located near public transport. (Some counties, like LA County, hope expand public transportation options to vaccination sites in the future).
► If you are Eligible Access rider, you can book a trip to take you to an approved COVID-19 vaccination center while driving.
► Lift also offers free or reduced-price journeys to “eligible persons”. The Lyft site directs you to this form to see if you are eligible for one of these trips.
► Uber is job with the City of Los Angeles and the Mayor’s Fund to offer free or discounted rides. This partnership is only if you get your chance the city-run site at USC. You can’t apply or apply for it, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. Instead, if you live in an eligible local postcode (based on need and proximity), they’ll contact you to see if you want or need that help. If you do, you will get a code of conduct.
► Some insurance plans include non-urgent medical transportation. Check with your provider if this is something you can use to get you to a vaccination site.
WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
☐ Your hide. You will need to wear one to the vaccination site.
☐ Proof that you are eligible to be vaccinated, comprising:
☐ ID with your name and photo on it (does not have to be government issued)
☐ Proof that you work or live in the county where you get the vaccine
☐ Proof of your age
► Note: These do not have to be three separate documents. For example, if you have a driver’s license with you, it would show your photo and name, age and place of residence all in one.
☐ Clothing that will allow your vaccinator to access your upper arm. Short-sleeved shirts or loose clothing might be best here. Long sleeves or tight-fitting clothes can be too difficult to roll up.
☐ Fluids. To drink a lot of water. You will want to stay very well hydrated.
WHAT TO ASK AFTER YOU’RE THERE
☐ How will I receive my second dose? If you receive a Pfizer or Moderna injection, you will need a second injection in 21 days (Pfizer) or 28 days later (Moderna). Be sure to confirm with your vaccinator how you can get a second appointment within the recommended window.
► If you’re having trouble getting that second shot, we also have a guide for it: How to get the second dose of vaccine – and everything you need to know about it.
► If you are getting a Johnson & Johnson vaccine (also called Janssen), that is, a single injection vaccine, then you do not have to worry about a second dose just yet.
☐ Can I have my vaccine card? Make sure you get (and keep) the white vaccine card with your name, the type of vaccine you received and the date of your second dose, if you received Pfizer or Moderna. Put this in a safe place. To do. Not. To lose. This.
AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT (S)
Don’t worry if you feel mild side effects, such as pain or swelling in your arm, or fatigue, pain or fever in the rest of your body. If your symptoms are severe – such as an allergic reaction – call 911 immediately. If other side effects persist for more than a few days, call your doctor.
To help manage milder side effects, the CDC recommends:
☐ Move or even exercise the arm where you pulled
☐ Apply a clean, cool, damp washcloth to your arm
☐ Stay hydrated. Fluids, fluids, fluids.
Even after taking a photo, you still need to be careful around other people and follow the distancing and mask rules.
If you receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you are considered “fully immunized” two weeks after your second injection.
If you receive Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) you are considered ‘fully vaccinated’ two weeks after your first (and only) vaccine.
The CDC (and LA County) has advice on what you can do after you are fully vaccinated, and what precautions you still need to take:
- You can gather inside with other fully vaccinated people without masks or physical distancing.
- You can gather inside with unvaccinated people of a other household with no mask and no physical distance – unless one of these people (or anyone they live with) has a increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
- You do not need to quarantine or get tested after known exposure to COVID-19, unless you have symptoms.
- If you live in a group environment (such as a correctional or detention facility or group home) and you are with someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you have no symptoms. .
- Continue wearing of masks and physical distancing in public.
- Continue to wear a mask and move away physically when visiting unvaccinated people from multiple households.
- Always avoid medium and large gatherings.
- Get tested again if you meet Symptoms of covid19.
- Always follow guidelines issued by individual employers.
- Always delay domestic and international travel and track CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.
The CDC also says you should avoid receiving other types of vaccines – including flu or shingles vaccines – within two weeks of your COVID-19 injection (s).
TALK TO US
How did it go? What works? What is not? What advice would you give to others who are preparing for a vaccine?
We want to hear from you.
If you agree with us asking questions about your experiences to inform future stories and vaccine coverage, fill in this form.
And if you have a question or experience not covered in our guides or reports, you can fill out the form below to let one of our journalists know.
We can’t respond to everyone right away, but we read everything you share with us. And that informs our reports going forward.
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