Vaccines

Ideally, you’d get:

• Two doses for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, 21 days apart
• Two doses for the Moderna vaccine, 28 days apart 
• Just one dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine

If two shots are needed, get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. If you can’t get it at the recommended interval, you can get your second dose up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. We have limited data on how well these vaccines work beyond this window. But if you get the second dose after 42 days, there is no need to start over.

Children aged 5-11 who get the lower-dose Pfizer vaccine should also get two shots 21 days apart.

Booster or additional doses of these vaccines are available for those 18 and older who are eligible. Read Booster shots and additional doses to see if you are eligible.

Only a single booster dose is recommended at this time. You should not repeat a vaccine series.

Yes, after you complete your first vaccination series. In the United States, that means two shots of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days apart, or two shots of the Moderna vaccine 28 days apart, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Then you may choose another vaccine to receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine they got before, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC recommendations now allow for this type of mix-and-match dosing for booster doses.

Nothing. COVID-19 vaccines and their administration are free to the public.

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

No. Vaccine eligibility is based on age. Residency or immigration status does not matter.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you can do so on the Manage your appointments page.

You will be asked to confirm your appointment with:

• Your appointment confirmation number, and 
• Either your cell phone number or your email address.

Yes. Research has not yet shown how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again after you recover from COVID-19. Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with having had COVID-19. One study showed that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than two times as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again.

No. Wait until you have recovered and have met the criteria for ending isolation. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 between their first and second dose.

Yes. All vaccine clinics in California are required to meet ADA requirements.

Check with your healthcare provider, local health department, or local pharmacy. 

If you cannot leave your home, you can state this when booking on myturn.ca.gov or when calling 1-833-422-4255. If eligible, your local health jurisdiction will arrange for your in-home vaccination.

If you do not have a way to get to a vaccination site, you can receive free transportation through:

• My Turn, or 
• By calling the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-422-4255.

Transportation options include:

• Car transportation for ambulatory patients
• Non-emergency medical transportation for non-ambulatory patients, including 
  • Wheelchair vans
  • Gurney transportation, and other options. 

You can also check with your healthcare provider, local health department, or local pharmacy.

If you have Medi-Cal managed care, you can get transportation through your health plan or provider. Contact your plan’s member service department to ask for transportation.

If you get Medi-Cal through Fee-for-Service (FFS), you can access a list of transportation providers in your county. Contact them directly to arrange transportation to your appointments. 

If there is not a provider in your area, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) can assist. Email them at DHCSNMT@dhcs.ca.gov. Do NOT include personal information in your first email. DHCS staff will reply with a secure email asking for more information. 

If you need non-emergency medical transportation, please inform your medical provider. They can prescribe this service and put you in touch with a transportation service.

Yes. It’s recommended that you get a booster shot as soon as you’re eligible:

• If you got a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, get a booster shot after 6 months
• If you got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, get a booster shot after 2 months

Your booster shot can be a different vaccine brand than you received before.

Californians can schedule their booster shot or find a walk-in clinic at My Turn. Read more about booster shots and booster questions and answers from CDPH.

Additional doses of Pfizer or Moderna are recommended for people with compromised immune systems, specifically those who: 

• Get active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Got an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Got a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Get active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress immune response

Talk to your doctor to see if getting an additional dose is right for you. If you meet these criteria, you can book your third dose at My Turn.

See questions and answers about additional doses.

The following are accepted: 

• Original DHHS CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card, which includes:
  • Name of person vaccinated
  • Date of birth 
  • Type of vaccine provided
  • Lot number
  • Date last dose administered
  • Site where administered

• A photo or paper copy of your DHHS CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card
• A photo of your vaccination record card stored on a phone or other electronic device
• Paper or digital documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider or other issuer.
• A Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record (DCVR). 

Read CDPH’s Vaccine Record Guidelines & Standards for complete details.

People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19:

• Two weeks after they receive the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna), or
• Two weeks after they receive a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Booster doses are not required to be considered fully vaccinated. But we recommend you get a booster as soon as you’re eligible to get the most protection from COVID-19.

See CDPH’s COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People for details.

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

If your body develops an immune response, you may test positive on antibody tests. This shows that you may have protection against the virus.

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.

Yes. Keep your vaccination record card in a safe place to prevent loss or damage

The Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record (DCVR) portal gives you a digital copy of this record. If you’ve lost your paper card, print out your digital record. You can use it at any place where you would show your paper card.

Read CDPH’s Vaccine Record Guidelines & Standards for complete details.

Booster shots or additional doses will not automatically show on your digital vaccine record. You will need to go to the Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal to get a new QR code.

We recommend waiting 14 days for your new dose to show up in the California Immunization Registry before you try to get a new QR code.

Yes. Before vaccinating a minor, vaccine providers must get consent from a:

• Parent, 
• Legal guardian, or 
• Other adults having legal custody. 

There are some exceptions:

• Emancipated minors do not need the consent of a parent or guardian to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Providers may accept written consent from a parent or legal guardian of an unaccompanied minor. This consent must verify the parent/guardian has received the Pfizer EUA Fact Sheet.
• Phone or video consent is acceptable. The parent/guardian must confirm that they received the Pfizer EUA Fact Sheet. Reading the fact sheet to the parent/guardian is an option.

Families should check with their vaccine provider on acceptable forms of consent. See CDPH’s Pfizer Vaccine Minor Consent Guidance for more details.

Cases in children are increasing. It is important to get young people vaccinated to prevent more hospitalizations and deaths.

Vaccinations may stop the spread of coronavirus variants. They can also shrink the pool of people vulnerable to COVID-19. By getting children 5 and up vaccinated, families can be safer as we get back to doing the things we love.

Yes, unless they have had anaphylactic-type reactions to components of the Pfizer vaccine. Allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are rare. If your child has severe allergies or flu vaccine reactions, talk to their doctor before getting them vaccinated.   

Youth aged 5 and up can still receive the COVID-19 vaccine even if they have health conditions. Talk to your doctor or clinic about your child’s specific conditions.

Yes. Students will be required to be vaccinated for in-person learning starting the term following FDA full approval of the vaccine for their grade span (7-12 and K-6). Vaccination will protect young people against more-contagious coronavirus variants and COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine will be added to the list of already required vaccinations for school, including vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella and more.

Vaccine trials commonly begin with older, more vulnerable populations and then extend to younger ages. This phased eligibility approach balances the need for both safety and speed.

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.

The Employer Vaccination Toolkit provides all the information you need to:

• Partner with local providers for offsite vaccination events
• Request a worksite mobile clinic
• Help employees find and book vaccination appointments
• Share and promote resources that support employees in getting vaccinated

Yes, if certain requirements are met. Under the ADA, an employer may insist all employees to meet a standard that is job-related and consistent with business necessity. This could include a safety-related standard requiring COVID-19 vaccination.  

But if an employee cannot meet such a standard because of a disability, the employer may not require that they comply. The exception to that is if the employee’s non-compliance poses a threat to their health or safety or that of others in the workplace.

For more details, read What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws.

Yes. In California these include healthcare workers, those who work in congregate settings, state employees, care workers, and K-12 teachers and school staff.

Healthcare workers and workers in congregate settings (like homeless shelters and correctional facilities) must be fully vaccinated. Exceptions can only be made for those with:

• Conflicting religious beliefs, or
• Qualified medical reasons. 

If they are not fully vaccinated, they are required to get tested for COVID-19 regularly and wear masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) at work. Read more in: 

• Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement Q&A
• Protection in High-Risk Settings Q&A
• Vaccination requirement for health care workers in correctional facilities and detention centers

California state employees must also be fully vaccinated or be regularly tested for COVID-19. See details at CalHR’s Vaccine Verification and Testing Requirements.

K-12 teachers and school employees in California must verify that they are fully vaccinated, or be tested weekly for COVID-19.

Workers in adult and senior care facilities and in-home care workers must be fully vaccinated by November 30, 2021. For details and exceptions, see the September 28 public health order.

CDPH expanded this order to include workers in senior living and hospice workers. See expansion of vaccine requirement FAQ for details.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccine does not provide protection against flu.

The CDC recommends that:

• If you have had a severe or immediate reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, do not get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the Janssen vaccine.
• If you have had a severe or immediate reaction to any ingredient in the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, do not get the Janssen vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
• If you had an immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, do not get the second dose.  
• If you are allergic to PEG, you should not get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the Janssen vaccine.
• If you are allergic to polysorbate, you should not get the Janssen vaccine. Ask your doctor if you can get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

People with underlying medical conditions can get vaccinated, as long as they are not allergic to vaccine ingredients. Learn more about vaccination considerations for people with underlying medical conditions.

To learn about the ingredients in authorized COVID-19 vaccines, see

• Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
• Information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
• Information About Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

Yes. The CDC states that pregnant and lactating individuals can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Experts have no vaccination safety concerns for pregnant or lactating women or their babies. The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the live virus, so they cannot cause COVID-19.

Pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 than those who are not pregnant. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can protect you from severe illness. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information, read:

• CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding
• CDPH’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy

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 after the start of COVID-19 symptoms, and 
  • Meet criteria to stop 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.

Yes, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines (like for the flu) at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between different vaccinations. Learn more about getting more than one kind of vaccine.

Yes. Both My Turn and Vaccines.gov allow you to search for vaccines by manufacturer.

Read CDPH’s Choosing the COVID-19 Vaccine That is Right for You.

If you’re getting a booster shot, you can choose to get a different vaccine brand than you originally got.

One is. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, now named Comirnaty, has full FDA approval for use in anyone aged 16 and up. 

The FDA can allow using vaccines before full approval. This is called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). It lets us respond quickly to emergency situations like a pandemic. EUAs still involve rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness.

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have EUAs for use in anyone aged 18 and up. The Pfizer vaccine has an EUA for use in children aged 12 to 15. The lower-dose Pfizer vaccine has an EUA for use in children aged 5 to 11.

If you’ve been waiting for full FDA approval of a vaccine before getting vaccinated, the wait is over. Visit My Turn and book your Pfizer vaccination today.

No. Neither the state or federal government requires you to get vaccinated. We hope Californians will opt for vaccination once they see how safe and effective it is.

Yes. Visitors to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities must show proof that they are fully vaccinated. If they are not fully vaccinated, they may only visit if they show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours.

All visitors, no matter their vaccination status, must wear masks and appropriate PPE and keep social distance during their visit. Read more in CDPH’s Requirements for Visitors in Acute Health Care and Long-Term Care Settings.

Talking with family and friends about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine can be hard. Try to listen without judgement and identify the root of their concerns. Things to remember to help open the discussion include:

• Listen to questions with empathy
• Ask open-ended questions to explore concerns
• Ask permission to share information
• Help them find their own reason to get vaccinated
• Help make their vaccination happen

Read the CDC’s How to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family.