Covid-19 &
Vaccines
Know all about Vaccines for Covid-19
We run vaccination clinics in & around LA County and provide education & awareness materials, PPE kits, and other resources. Please contact: info@saahasforcause.org, (562)-526-2508
Why should I get vaccinated?
Because it’s is your best bet against getting COVID-19, falling sick, having to be hospitalized, or dying. It also lessens your risk of becoming chronically ill from COVID-19 and having to miss work or studies. Besides, by getting vaccinated, you protect your neighbors, friends, and family—including children under 12, who can’t be vaccinated yet, and people with weak immune systems (immune-compromised), for whom vaccines aren’t so effective.
So, the more people get vaccinated, the harder it’s for COVID-19 to spread. Or turn into new variants. Vaccines are especially important for preventing spread within your home because it can be hard to stay apart even if someone in your family has COVID-19 or has to quarantine.
Note:
You should get vaccinated even if you’ve had COVID-19: Your natural immunity may not last long enough or be strong enough, to save you from getting infected again. Plus, we don’t know if getting infected protects you from variants.
You should get vaccinated even if you wear masks, do distancing, and the rest—through these do lower your chances of being exposed to the virus or spreading it.
How well do vaccines work?
Extremely well, even against the Delta variant. Once you are fully vaccinated, there’s still a small risk you may get infected. But it’s very unlikely you’ll get as sick as unvaccinated people or your symptoms will last as long. In fact, you may not have any symptoms.
However, note…
We don’t yet know how long the vaccines’ protection against COVID-19 lasts
We also don’t know if you can carry & spread COVID-19 after being vaccinated.
Safety Concerns
The one question that is on the mind of people is whether the Covid Vaccine is safe. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued Emergency Use Authorization for two Covid-19 vaccines. These vaccines have been tested and evaluated and the FDA has deemed them safe for use.
Where can I get vaccinated?
You can get vaccinated free at hundreds of locations throughout LA County, e.g., clinics, community vaccination sites, mobile or pop-up sites in public places like metro stations and parks, pharmacies, places of worship, schools, senior housing developments & long-term care facilities, worksites. Many locations don’t need an appointment. If you’re homebound, you can get vaccinated at home.
For help:
- Visit VaccinateLACounty.com and click on “How to Get Vaccinated” to find a location or request an in-home vaccination
- Call DPH’s Vaccine Call Center at 1-833-540-0473 (8 am-8:30 pm, 7 days a week). They’ll…
- Help you make an appointment
- Arrange in-home vaccination
- Arrange free transportation to a vaccination location
- Help with paratransit and other services for people with disabilities.
For advice:
- You can get information in many languages 24/7 by calling 2-1-1
- Health Services’ COVID-19 Nurse Advice Call Line: 844-804-0055 (7 am-7 pm, 7 days a week)
What do I have to pay?
Nothing.
If you have insurance, your doctor or pharmacy may charge your insurance company a fee for giving the vaccine. But you won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket.
Side-effects of the Vaccine
You may not have any side effects.
Or you may suffer side effects like those you get after a flu or shingles vaccine, e.g.:
- Feeling tired
- Fever & chills
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pains
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain, swelling, or redness around where you got the shot
- Swollen lymph nodes
Will I be asked about my immigration status when I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
No. You get the vaccine free regardless of immigration status. You don’t even need a government-issued ID or a letter from your employer to get vaccinated.
How many doses will I need?
|
Vaccine |
Doses |
|
J&J/Janssen |
Single-dose |
|
Pfizer |
2 doses, given 21 days apart |
|
Moderna |
2 doses, given 28 days apart |
Note:
- It takes time for your body to build immunity to COVID-19 once you’re vaccinated; so, you aren’t fully vaccinated until 14 days after your last dose; so, don’t lower your guard for at least 14 days.
- If you take the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine…
- You must get the same vaccine both times
- You aren’t vaccinated unless you take both doses (Make sure you get your 2nd dose from where you got your 1st one and take your vaccination card along when you go for the 2nd dose)
- If you’re late getting the 2nd dose, you needn’t start over
- You should get a 3rd dose, of the same vaccine, if you’re immune-compromised, i.e., if your immune system is moderately or extremely weak (Ask your doctor).
- 65+ third shot is open now refer: CDC
What are common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines?
You may not have any side effects.
Or you may suffer side effects like those you get after a flu or shingles vaccine, e.g.:
- Feeling tired
- Fever & chills
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pains
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain, swelling, or redness around where you got the shot
- Swollen lymph nodes
Side effects are normal and a sign a vaccine is working. They show your body is learning to fight the virus and is building immunity.
Still, they may limit your activities; though they usually go away in 1-2 days.
Contact your doctor if:
- Side effects last more than 2 days
- New symptoms start more than 2 days after you get vaccinated
- You have cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell (These aren’t vaccine side effects)
- Symptoms that get worse or worry you.
There’s a small chance a vaccine may give you a severe (bad) allergic reaction. It’d come a few minutes to an hour after you had your shot. Its signs can be:
- Bad rash all over your body
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Swelling of the face and/or throat
- Weakness or fainting.
If you feel any of these, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital.
For 2-dose vaccines (Pfizer & Moderna), side effects are more common after the 2nd dose. But get the 2nd dose even if you get side effects after the first dose, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to.
Where do I get my vaccine card?
To prove you’re vaccinated, you need the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (white card). You’ll get it after you’re vaccinated at a DHS clinic.
3 other ways to get it:
- Log in to the MyWellness patient portal
- If you’re vaccinated in California, request a digital “card” at MyVaccineRecord.cdph.ca.gov; or through LA County’s partner, Healthvana
- Call your clinic to request a printout.
Keep your card carefully because it can’t be replaced. Take a photo, and get a photocopy too.
Can children get vaccinated?
Children 12 & up can be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. (The Moderna and Janssen vaccines are only for 18 & up.)
Over 4 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 in the US. COVID-19 is often milder in children than adults. Nonetheless, some got very sick or have lasting health problems from it.
Getting your child vaccinated lowers their risk of getting infected. It also protects against Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition in children who had COVID-19.
Can I get COVID-19 from a vaccine?
No. None of the vaccines uses a live or active form of the virus.
Will I be asked about my immigration status when I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
No. You get the vaccine free regardless of immigration status. You don’t even need a government-issued ID or a letter from your employer to get vaccinated.
Your medical information is private and getting vaccinated doesn’t affect your immigration status.
For detailed and up-to-date information, please check these regularly:
When do you need medical intervention?
You need medical intervention in the below cases:
1. If the area where you get the shot becomes increases in redness or tenderness after 24 hours.
2. If the side-effects are severe and do not go away in a few days on their own.