Vaccines
Protect yourself: Avoid COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
"Vigilance is our best defense against another challenging COVID-19 winter," said Dr. Aragón. "Get vaccinated if you haven't yet. Get your booster if you completed your vaccination series more than six months ago, especially if you or someone in your home has a medical condition or works around other people. Continue to be safe in public and in crowded spaces by wearing a well-fitting mask that has good filtration. Keep in mind that your mask also protects you against other respiratory illnesses, including the flu."
Frequently Asked Questions
Vaccination is our most powerful tool to help protect ourselves, loved ones, our community and ultimately end the pandemic. The vaccines give you strong protection from getting and spreading COVID-19 and even greater protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death from the virus.
No. If you have insurance, your doctor or pharmacy may charge your insurance company a fee for giving the vaccine. People without health insurance can get COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. There are no out-of-pocket costs for anyone.
No. COVID-19 vaccine is being given to Lake County residents at no cost, regardless of immigration status. You should not be asked about your immigration status when you get a COVID vaccine. Your medical information is private and getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not affect your immigration status.
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series (the Comirnaty/Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine (the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine)
If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are fully vaccinated.
Yes. You should get vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again.
Studies have shown that vaccination provides a strong boost in protection in people who have recovered from COVID-19.
Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). Learn more about EUAs in this video.
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for emergency use by FDA. These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Yes. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Like adults, children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Children age 5-17 are currently eligible for vaccination.
California began administering lower doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children 5-11 on November 3, 2021, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the lower doses of the vaccine through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA’s) and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW).
Families with children ages 5-11 can now protect their kids from COVID-19. This represents another turning point in our fight against COVID-19 and gets us closer to achieving full family protection against this deadly virus.
Persons younger than 18 years must have parental or guardian consent given by a legally authorized representative (parent or guardian). An emancipated minor may consent for him/herself. Visit California Department of Public Health for their statement regarding Pfizer Vaccine Minor Consent.
Find more information by visiting COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens.
Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. If you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. If you have questions about getting vaccinated, a conversation with your healthcare provider might help, but is not required for vaccination.
Yes. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). Learn more about EUAs in this video.
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for emergency use by FDA. These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
You may get side effects, like the ones after the flu vaccine or shingles vaccine after getting a COVID-19
vaccine. For two-dose vaccines, side effects are more common after the second dose. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away within a day or two. Not everyone gets side effects. They may include:
- Fever, chills, and muscle aches
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Sore or red arm
Side effects are normal and a sign that the vaccine is working. It shows your body is learning to fight a germ and build up immunity. It is important to get the second dose even if you get side effects after the first dose unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to.
Contact your doctor if you have:- Vaccine side effects that last more than 2 days,
- Symptoms that start more than 2 days after you get the vaccine,
- Any of these symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell (as these are not vaccine side effects), or
- Symptoms that get worse or worry you.
- mRNA vaccines, like Moderna or Pfizer's Comirnaty, contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build defensive cells that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
- Vector vaccines, like Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called a viral vector. Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material gives cells instructions to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Using these instructions, our cells make copies of the protein. This prompts our bodies to build specialized cells that will remember how to fight that virus if we are infected in the future.
Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, the FDA required each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines to be studied for at least two months (eight weeks) after the final dose. Millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no long-term side effects have been detected.
CDC continues to closely monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. If scientists find a connection between a safety issue and a vaccine, FDA and the vaccine manufacturer will work toward an appropriate solution to address the specific safety concern (for example, a problem with a specific lot, a manufacturing issue, or the vaccine itself).
No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.
No. None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
Serious side effects are rare. As with any medicine, it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction, such as not being able to breathe. This reaction is very rare but if it does happen, it is usually within in first 15-30 minutes after vaccination. Everyone is observed after getting a COVID-19 vaccine so that healthcare providers can treat an allergic reaction straight away.
There is a risk of a rare but serious condition involving blood clots and low platelets in people after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. This risk is very low. This problem is rare and happened in about 7 per 1 million vaccinated women between 18 and 49 years old. For women 50 years and older and men of any age, this problem is even more rare. This problem has not been linked to the other two COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna).
If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 9-1-1 immediately. If you currently have urgent or concerning symptoms, please contact your primary healthcare provider.
CDC and FDA encourages people to report possible adverse events after vaccination to VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), even if they are not sure the vaccine caused the problem. In general, report any side effect or health problem after vaccination that is concerning to you. Reporting adverse events to VAERS helps scientists at CDC and FDA keep vaccines safe.
Please visit the VAERS website for more information or to report an adverse event.
No. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not make you magnetic, including at the site of vaccination which is usually your arm. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals. Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations authorized for use in the United States.
Vaccine ingredients can vary by manufacturer. To learn more about the ingredients in authorized COVID-19 vaccines, visit the CDC webpage.
California began administering lower doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children 5-11 on November 3, 2021, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the lower doses of the vaccine through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA’s) and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup (WSSSRW).
Families with children ages 5-11 can now protect their kids from COVID-19. This represents another turning point in our fight against COVID-19 and gets us closer to achieving full family protection against this deadly virus.
Persons younger than 18 years must have parental or guardian consent given by a legally authorized representative (parent or guardian). An emancipated minor may consent for him/herself. Read California Department of Public Health's Pfizer Vaccine Minor Consent statement HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Comprehensive clinical trials in more than 4,500 children ages 5-11 demonstrate the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, resulting in a strong antibody response in children who received the vaccines.
Clinical trials began in June for 5-11-year-olds in which a lower dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was tested. Pfizer announced in late September that their data demonstrated the vaccine is safe and produces a significant immune response. After this thorough study and the clinical trials, the FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. The CDC and Western States Scientific Review Group reviewed all data and recommended the vaccine for all children ages 5-11.
There’s consistent and real-world evidence of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. The vaccine has been given safely to millions of youth since it was authorized for ages 16 and up last December and for ages 12 and up in May.
California was allocated 1.2 million pediatric doses with additional supply from the federal government becoming available in the coming weeks. Distribution of these vaccines will be the same as throughout the vaccination effort with direct shipments to local health jurisdictions and providers.
The COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 contains a smaller amount of the same mRNA material that has been given safely to millions of youth since it was authorized for ages 16 and up last December and for ages 12 and up in May.
The dosage of Pfizer’s 5-11 vaccine is in two, 10-micrograms (mcg) doses administered 21 days apart. This dosage is one-third of the adolescent and adult dose of two, 30-mcg doses.
The clinical trials demonstrated a robust antibody response and favorable safety outcomes in kids ages 5-11 who received the two-dose regimen.
After COVID-19 vaccination, some children – like adults - may have some mild side effects like soreness, headache, fever, chills. These are normal signs that your body is building immunity and, while they may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, they should go away in a few days.
Some people have no side effects at all. The risks from COVID-19 far outweigh the possible mild side effects from the vaccine.
Children are susceptible to serious complications from the virus and will benefit from the protection given by the vaccine. COVID-19 is the 8th leading cause of death for children ages 5-11. Children can also experience “long COVID” and in some instances, the virus has caused Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), in which a hyperactive immune system attacks the child’s body.
California will administer vaccines with the strategies laid out in the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Action Plan. The state will be leveraging existing infrastructure and partnerships currently used to administer vaccines for 12 and up. This includes working closely with local health departments, schools, community partners and others to administer vaccines safely and equitably through mobile clinics and vaccine pop-ups in hardest-hit communities across the state.
There are many ways to get your eligible children vaccinated by either making an appointment or visiting a walk-in clinic. You can call your pediatrician or local health clinic to schedule your child’s vaccination appointment. You can also visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to find a vaccine near you.
Scientists and doctors recommend that children and adolescents ages 5 and up get the vaccine, even if they’ve had COVID-19. We don’t know how long someone is protected from getting sick after recovering from the virus. And we don’t know whether the immunity developed against one strain provides enough protections against new variants.
Here’s what we know: These free, safe, and effective vaccines will help kids fend off the worst outcomes of this infectious virus, including the highly contagious Delta variant.
- Use the card you received at the time of your vaccination
- Visit California's My Vaccine Record to get a digital copy
- Request your California immunization records from the California Immunization Registry
| Who's being vaccinated | Timeline |
| Residents* who live or work or attend school in Lake County, age 18 and older. | Now eligible. |
| Residents* who live or work or attend school in Lake County, age 5-17 with parent or guardian consent. | Now eligible. |
| Residents who meet the criteria for an additional dose or booster, per current CDC guidance.** | Limited eligibility. Limited availability through community partners. |
*Please be prepared to show proof of residency or employment.
**Current CDC guidance can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.
Pfizer's Comirnaty is currently the only vaccine approved for use in people ages 5-17 years old.
Boosters for Youths (12-17 years old)
CDC recommends a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for:
1st Booster
- Most children and teens, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
- Children and teens who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series
2nd Booster
- CDC recommends a 2nd booster of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the 1st booster for children and teens who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
Boosters for Youths (5-11 years old)
CDC recommends a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for:
1st Booster
- Most children, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
- Children who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series
Watch MyTurn.CA.gov for clinics near you.
- Minors must have parent or legal guardian's written consent.
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Consent for Individuals Under 18 Years of Age / Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Consent for Individuals Under 18 Years of Age (Spanish)
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Fact Sheets / Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Fact Sheets (Spanish)
- COVID-19 Vaccines: What Teens Need to Know / COVID-19 Vaccines: What Teens Need to Know (Spanish)
Additional Doses
The CDC is recommending an additional dose for immunocompromised people who meet certain criteria. Information on whether an additional dose is recommended for you can be found by contacting your healthcare provider and by visiting the CDC website.
Additional doses are available on a limited basis through some community partners, such as some healthcare providers and pharmacies. Public Health is not currently providing additional doses. Please check directly with your provider for availability.
Please note: Additional doses are not the same as a "booster."
Boosters
Under new recommendations by the CDC, CDPH, and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, providers may now administer booster doses:
CDPH recommends booster doses of the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine if you:
1st Booster
-
Most people, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series
-
Adults ages 50 years and older, at least 4 months after first booster
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
CDPH recommends booster doses of the Moderna vaccine if you:
1st Booster
-
Most people, at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 3 months after the final dose in the primary series
-
Adults ages 50 years and older, at least 4 months after first booster
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
CDPH recommends a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if you:
1st Booster
-
Most people, at least 2 months after the primary dose of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, at least 2 months after the additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
-
Adults ages 50 years and older, at least 4 months after first booster
-
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised
Boosters are available on a limited basis through some community partners, such as some healthcare providers and pharmacies. Please check directly with your provider for availability.
| VACCINATION CLINICS | |||
| AREA |
PROVIDER | REGISTER | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH LAKE AREA |
Adventist Health Clearlake Medical Office 15230 Lakeshore Dr. Clearlake Driving Directions  |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
Appointment required Vaccinating non-patients *Ages 5+ *3rd doses 12+ Pfizer 5-11 Pfizer 12+ Moderna 18+ By Appointment: Moderna Tuesdays 9AM-12PM Pfizer Tuesdays 1PM-4:30PM |
| OptumServe Lower Lake Town Hall 16195 Main St. Lower Lake |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
*Ages 5+ *3rd doses 12+ Pfizer 5-11 Pfizer 12+ Appointment & Walk-In Hours: Alternating Fridays |
|
| Optum Mobile Redbud Library 14785 Burns Valley Rd. Clearlake |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
*Ages 5+ *3rd doses 12+ Pfizer 5-11 Pfizer 12+ Appointment & Walk-In Hours: Wednesdays 9:30AM-6:30PM |
|
| Rite Aid 15025 Olympic Dr. Clearlake Driving Directions |
Rite Aid |
Appointment required *Ages 12+ *3rd doses 12+ Moderna 18+ Pfizer 12+ Appointment hours may vary. May offer evening & weekend appointments. |
|
| VA Clinic 15145 Lakeshore Dr. Clearlake Driving Directions |
(707) 995-7200 | Appointment required Current patients only |
|
| Walmart 15960 Dam Rd. Clearlake Driving Directions |
Walmart |
Appointment required *Ages 5-11 & 18+ *3rd doses 18+ Moderna 18+ Pfizer 5-11 Appointment hours may vary. May offer weekend appointments. |
|
| NORTH LAKE AREA |
CVS 949 11th St. Lakeport Driving Directions |
CVS |
Appointment required *Ages 18+ *3rd doses 18+ Moderna 18+ Appointment hours may vary. May offer evening & weekend appointments. |
| North Lake Medical Pharmacy #1 5136 Hill Rd. East Lakeport Driving Directions |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
Appointment encouraged Walk-Ins welcome *Ages 18+ *3rd doses 18+ J&J (Janssen) 18+ Moderna 18+ Walk-In Hours: J&J (Janssen) T & Th 10AM-3PM Moderna W & F 10AM-3PM By Appointment: J&J (Janssen) T & Th 10AM-3PM Moderna W & F 10AM-4PM |
|
| North Lake Medical Pharmacy #2 347 Lakeport Blvd. Lakeport Driving Directions |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
Appointment encouraged Walk-Ins welcome *Ages 5+ *3rd doses 12+ J&J (Janssen) 18+ Moderna 18+ Pfizer 5-11 Pfizer 12+ Walk-In Hours: J&J (Janssen) F 10AM-4PM Moderna T & Th 10AM-4PM Pfizer 12+ M-F 10AM-4PM By Appointment: J&J (Janssen) F 10AM-3PM Moderna T & Th 10AM-6PM Pfizer 5-11 F 10AM-4PM Pfizer 12+ M-F 10AM-4PM |
|
| Optum Mobile Lake County Courthouse 255 N. Forbes St. Lakeport |
MyTurn (833) 422-4255 |
*Ages 5+ *3rd doses 12+ Pfizer 5-11 Pfizer 12+ Appointment & Walk-In Hours: Alternating Fridays June 24th 8AM-5PM |
|
| Safeway 1071 11th St Lakeport Driving Directions |
Safeway |
Appointment required *Ages 12+ *3rd doses 12+ Moderna 18+ Pfizer 12+ Appointment hours may vary. |
|
| Sutter Lakeside Medical Practice 987 Parallel Dr., Ste. C Lakeport Driving Directions |
Sutter Lakeside (707) 262-5088 |
Appointment required Current patients only *Ages 12+ *3rd doses 12+ Appointment hours may vary. |
|
| Tribal Health 925 Bevins Ct. Lakeport Driving Directions |
Lake County Tribal Health (707) 263-8382 |
Appointment required Current patients only |
|
*Parent/guardian consent required for minors.
*4th doses provided per current CDC recommendations/guidance. Please bring vaccination record.
*Please verify availability with provider.
Every effort is made to keep this list as accurate as possible; however, vaccine availability and hours are subject to change without notice. If you know of a clinic location or change, please notify us at (707)-263-8174 or by email at [email protected].
Not finding the clinic or vaccine you need? Fill out a Vaccination Request Form.
- DO NOT come to a vaccine clinic if you do not have an appointment, unless the clinic accepts walk-ins.
- You must bring your vaccine card to your 2nd Dose, 3rd Dose, Additional Dose and Booster appointment.
- It is important to schedule your 2nd Dose for the same vaccine you received as your 1st Dose.
- It is important to schedule your 2nd Moderna Dose at least 28 days after your 1st Dose.
- It is important to schedule your 2nd Pfizer Dose at least 21 days after your 1st Dose.
- Most providers are requiring appointments be scheduled online.
- 3rd/Additional doses are available in limited circumstances and have limited availability. Please check availability with your provider before your appointment.
Scheduling with MyTurn:
- "Both Doses" will schedule both a 1st and 2nd Dose appointment. Do not select this if you have received your first dose.
- "1st Dose" clinics are for your 1st Dose only. You will need to schedule your 2nd Dose appointment separately.
- "2nd Dose" clinics are for your 2nd Dose only. You must receive the same vaccine as your 1st Dose. Do not select this if you have not had your 1st Dose.
- Please check often as appointments open as clinic supply allows.
- If the clinic you need is not available, MyTurn offers an option to notify you when it is available (applies to clinics listed in MyTurn only).
- If you have difficulty scheduling online with MyTurn, please call the California COVID Hotline at 1-833-422-4255. Operators speak English and Spanish. Staff at this number do NOT have access to appointments not listed in MyTurn.
- Call 211 or text "covid19" to 211-211 for COVID questions. *211 is not able to schedule vaccination appointments.
- Vaccine information is available by visiting covid19.ca.gov/vaccines or calling California's COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
- Local information is available by emailing [email protected] or calling 707-263-8174.
- If you have difficulty scheduling online with MyTurn, please call the California COVID Hotline at 1-833-422-4255. Operators speak English and Spanish. Staff at this number do NOT have access to appointments not listed in MyTurn.
- If you have difficulty scheduling online with providers not using MyTurn, please contact the provider directly.
- Lake County Farmworkers can call 707-262-4162, 707-262-4153 or 707-262-4159, Monday - Friday, 9 - 5 for assistance. Staff speak English and Spanish. Staff at these numbers do NOT have access to appointments not listed in MyTurn.
- Not finding the clinic or vaccine you need? Fill out a Vaccination Request Form.
Find vaccine allocation and doses administered by visiting California's Vaccines Dashboard.
