Vaccines

COVID-19 vaccination is one of the most important tools to end the COVID-19 pandemic. The State will equitably distribute a safe and effective vaccine to everyone in California who wants it. We expect to have enough supplies to vaccinate most Californians by summer 2021.

On this page you will find:

• When you can get vaccinated
• How to get vaccinated
• How vaccines work
• Vaccination progress dashboards
• What to expect after vaccination
• Spread the news about the vaccines
• Questions and answers

When you can get vaccinated

California is allocating COVID-19 vaccines as they become available to ensure equitable distribution.

Vaccinations are prioritized according to age and risk. A portion of the California population can get vaccinated now, and the rest should have access by spring 2021. 

Every Californian can sign up at myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255 to see if it’s their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re not currently eligible or if there are no open appointments, you can sign up to be notified when it’s your turn.

Who can get vaccinated now

See CDPH’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Guidelines for details.

Vaccinating those at higher risk

Beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgement to vaccinate individuals aged 16-64 who are deemed to be at the very highest risk to get very sick from COVID-19 because they have the following severe health conditions:

• Cancer, current with weakened immune system
• Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
• Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
• Down syndrome
• Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
• Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m²)
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%
  
  OR

If as a result of a developmental or other severe high-risk disability one or more of the following applies:

• The individual is likely to develop severe life-threatening illness or death from COVID-19 infection
• Acquiring COVID-19 will limit the individual’s ability to receive ongoing care or services vital to their well-being and survival
• Providing adequate and timely COVID care will be particularly challenging as a result of the individual’s disability.

See CDPH’s Provider Bulletin for details.

How to get vaccinated

How you will be vaccinated depends on when you are eligible and the available supply at the time you are eligible. 

Schedule with My Turn

Healthcare workers and individuals 65+ who live or work in certain counties can book appointments immediately through the myturn.ca.gov site or by calling (833) 422-4255.

Educators and childcare providers under age 65 will be able to  book an appointment on myturn.ca.gov with a special code. The State of California is working with local education and childcare organizations to distribute these codes. Learn more about the K-12 school staff and childcare vaccine allocation plan.

Online appointment scheduling for other groups and residents of other counties will be available soon statewide. Appointments are available in Spanish.

Schedule with a local provider

Some local health jurisdictions provide vaccination appointments separately from My Turn.

You can use the CDC VaccineFinder tool to find vaccination locations near you:

Find COVID-19 vaccines near you

Most Californians will be vaccinated at:

• Hospitals
• Community vaccination sites
• Doctor’s offices
• Clinics
• Pharmacies

How vaccines work

COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. It typically takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus. That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 just after vaccination, because the vaccine has not had enough time to build immunity. 

Side effects after vaccination are normal

After COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building immunity. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. They may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting vaccinated.

Vaccine safety 

COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials.

All COVID-19 vaccines were authorized only after it was found that they make it substantially less likely you’ll get COVID-19.

The first two vaccines are up to 95% effectiveness against a person becoming ill with COVID-19.

The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Learn how the federal government is working to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, using both established and new safety monitoring systems. These vaccines cannot give you COVID-19. Learn more facts about COVID-19 vaccines.

Results from monitoring efforts are reassuring. Many people have reported only mild side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. Some people have no side effects.

Benefits of getting vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19. But they have other benefits, too:

• In the rare case that you do still get COVID-19, the vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill. 
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build immunity. COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you.

COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal.

Read more at CDC’s Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Vaccination progress dashboards

These dashboards make vaccination data transparent and accessible to all Californians. They are updated daily.

The dashboards report vaccines administered by the county of residence. Where the county of residence was not reported, the county where vaccinated is used. This applies to less than 1% of vaccination records. The sum of county-level vaccinations does not equal statewide total vaccinations because some out-of-state residents are vaccinated in California.

Vaccine administration by county of residence

Vaccination by groups

The distribution of first vaccine doses by race and ethnicity, age, and gender is shown below. Providing this information is voluntary and not required for vaccination. 

Initially, vaccination was limited to healthcare workers and long-term care residents. Hence the data reflects those populations more than other California residents. Data shows the cumulative total administered and is updated weekly on Thursdays.

Race and ethnicity Age Gender

What to expect after vaccination

How much protection COVID-19 vaccination provides under real-life conditions is still unknown. Even with a vaccine, you may still be able to spread COVID-19. It is important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like:

• Staying home and isolating from others when sick
• Wearing masks 
• Washing hands often
• Social distancing and avoiding crowds 

Together, COVID-19 vaccination and taking steps to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19. We need to understand more about the protection that vaccines provide before we change recommendations.

You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines do not contain coronavirus and cannot give you COVID-19. Be sure to get both doses of the vaccine so it can work fully.

Limited quarantine exemption if you’re vaccinated

Vaccinated people who have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria, according to the CDC:

• Are fully vaccinated (it’s been 2 weeks or more since getting the second dose in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks or more since getting one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
• Are within 3 months of getting the last dose in the series
• Have had no symptoms since the exposure

People who do not meet all 3 of the above criteria should quarantine. Follow current quarantine guidance.

Fully vaccinated people who do not need to quarantine should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure. If they experience symptoms, they should be evaluated for COVID-19, including coronavirus testing if indicated. In addition, vaccinated people should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including travel recommendations.

Testing for COVID-19 during vaccine rollout

It will take many months before enough people are fully vaccinated to stop the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, at this time, CDPH does not recommend changes to testing requirements for individuals, even those who have been fully vaccinated. As the science and evidence evolves, CDPH will issue updated guidance to reflect new information and data. 

• Get tested: If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should get tested. This is true even after being vaccinated. Tests for COVID-19 work the same in vaccinated people as they do in unvaccinated people.
• Testing keeps you, your family, and friends safe
  • There are usually no out-of-pocket costs to get tested at state testing sites.
  • Test results are usually returned in no more than two days.
  • See testing page or call (833) 422-4255 to find a test site near you
  • Discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider
• If your job requires it, you still need to get tested regularly, even if you had the vaccine

Spread the news about the vaccines

Questions and answers

Vaccination planning

How are vaccines allocated and administered?

Once a week, the federal government announces anticipated allocation figures for each state. The number of allocated doses provided by the federal government is a projection and subject to change. Local providers are required to place their orders which are reviewed by the state and submitted to the federal government. The federal government then authorizes the order and submits the request to the manufacturer. The manufacturer or central distributor ships the vaccine directly to local providers. It can take a week or longer for allocation by the federal government to arrive at public health offices or providers for administration.

How can I sign-up to be a COVID-19 vaccine provider?

CDPH is developing an enrollment process.

Initial enrollment in the vaccination program is limited to sites selected by local health departments. Enrollment will open up to other providers as vaccine supply increases.

Getting vaccinated

How many COVID-19 vaccine doses are needed?

• Two doses for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, 21 days apart
• Two doses for the Moderna vaccine, 28 days apart

Get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible, but not less. However, if you can’t get it at the recommended interval, second doses may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. There is limited data on how well these vaccines work beyond this window. But if the second dose is given after 42 days, there is no need to start over.

Be sure to get the same COVID-19 vaccine the second time that you got the first time. These vaccines are not interchangeable with each other or with other COVID-19 vaccines. The safety and efficacy of mixing vaccines has not been tested.

How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost? 

Nothing. COVID-19 vaccines, including their administration, are free.

Read more at the Department of Managed Health Care’s Know Your Health Care Rights.

Do I need to be a California resident to get COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Vaccine distribution is based on eligibility irrespective of residency or immigration status.

I’ve already had COVID-19. Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. At this time, we do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.

What to expect after vaccination

Will the COVID-19 vaccine make me test positive for COVID-19?

No. A vaccine will not cause you to test positive on viral tests.

If your body develops an immune response (the goal of vaccination), there is a possibility that you may test positive on antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate that you may have protection against the virus.

How is my privacy protected if I take the COVID-19 vaccine?

California law strictly limits how personal information about those who are vaccinated can be shared. California negotiated with the federal government to limit the required data sharing to only information that will not allow an individual to be identified.

Read more at CDPH’s California Data Use Agreement and Frequently Asked Questions.

Vaccine limitations

I have allergies. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

It depends. CDC recommends that:

• If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get that specific vaccine.
• If you have a severe allergic reaction after getting the first shot, you should not get the second shot.
• If you have had an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get either of the currently available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
• If you had an immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the second dose.  
• People who are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you have had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injections, you should ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
• People with a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injections may still get vaccinated. People may get vaccinated even with a:
  • History of allergies to oral medications
  • Family history of severe allergic reactions
  • Milder allergy to vaccines

What are the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines?

The ingredients in currently available COVID-19 vaccines include mRNA, lipids, salts, sugars, and buffers. Buffers help maintain the stability of the pH solution. Vaccine ingredients can vary by manufacturer. To learn more about the ingredients in authorized COVID-19 vaccines, see

• Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
• Information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Are there certain populations who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC recommends that:

• If you have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get either of the currently available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
• If you had a severe allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the second dose.
• If you have had an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get either of the currently available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
• If you had an immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get the second dose.  Your doctor may refer you to a specialist in allergies and immunology to provide more care or advice.
• People who are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

People with underlying medical conditions can receive the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines provided they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women be vaccinated against COVID-19? 

Yes. The CDC recommends that if you are pregnant, you may choose to be vaccinated when it’s available to you. There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problem with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta.

People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may also receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. There is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. There is no routine recommendation for taking a pregnancy test before you get a COVID-19 vaccine.If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talk with a healthcare provider to help you make an informed decision.

How long should I wait to get the vaccine after I had COVID-19?

The CDC recommends:

• If you tested positive, had only mild symptoms, and were not treated for the coronavirus, you should wait at least 10 days since the start of COVID-19 symptoms and satisfy criteria to discontinue isolation before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Wait 90 days to get the vaccine if you recovered from a COVID-19 infection and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma.

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as another vaccine?

The CDC recommends:

• Wait at least 14 days before getting any other vaccine, including a flu or shingles vaccine, if you get your COVID-19 vaccine first. And if you get another vaccine first, wait at least 14 days before getting your COVID-19 vaccine.
• If a COVID-19 vaccine is inadvertently given within 14 days of another vaccine, you do not need to restart the COVID-19 vaccine series; you should still complete the series on schedule. When more data are available on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines, the CDC may update this recommendation.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?

Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are not recommended for children:

• Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is for ages sixteen and above
• Moderna vaccine is for ages eighteen and above

Clinical trials are ongoing to identify a safe vaccine for children.

Vaccine choices

Will I have a choice between the various COVID-19 vaccines?

It depends. Check with your health care provider about which vaccine they have available.

Will you make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory? 

No, there is no mandatory vaccination requirement from either the state or federal government. We hope that once Californians find out how safe and effective the COVID-19 vaccines are, they will voluntarily opt to receive them.

Vaccine committees and workgroups

How is the state making vaccine decisions?

A group of experts and a group of community representatives work together to make sure vaccine distribution is prioritized fairly. 

California formed a Scientific Safety Review Workgroup of experts to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. This workgroup has confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA are safe and effective.

Stay informed

• CDPH: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Vaccines
• CDPH: California COVID-19 Vaccination Program
• CDPH: Tracking Variants (The West Coast Strain)
• CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines
• CDC: Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines
• CDC: COVID-19 Vaccination