COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility
Knowing which vaccine brand has been approved for each age group can be confusing. Visit the CDC website for specific information about primary vaccine doses and boosters. You can use the CDC's online tool to determine if you are eligible for a booster.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for primary vaccine doses and boosters (CDC).
The CDC allows mix and match dosing for booster shots. Learn more here.
Visit vaccines.gov for information on where you can get a vaccine in your community.
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Where can I get a vaccine near me?
Visit vaccines.gov for information on where you can get a vaccine in your community.
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Do I have to sign up for a vaccine?
No. Most places are accepting walk-ins for vaccines. Some are also scheduling appointments if that works better for you. Find a vaccine location near you.
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Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I get?
Yes. Visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you offering the kind of vaccine you want.
Visit the CDC website for up-to-date recommendations and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. You can use the CDC's online tool to determine if you are eligible for a booster.
The CDC allows mix and match dosing for booster shots. Learn more here.
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Can I visit a Texas Health hospital for the vaccine?
Not at this time.
Visit vaccines.gov for information on where you can get a vaccine in your community.
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How much does the vaccine cost?
COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone at no cost. For information visit the CDC website.
Visit vaccines.gov for information on where you can get a vaccine in your community.
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Do I need to wait to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve recently gotten another vaccine?
No. The CDC has issued guidance that COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be given without regard to timing.
Latest information about vaccine coadministration can be found here.
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What can I expect on the day I get my vaccine?
Getting the vaccine usually doesn’t take long. Wear clothes that make it easy for the vaccination staff to access the top of your arm. Follow instructions from the staff at the vaccination site when you arrive. Be prepared to stay around 15-minutes for observation after you get your vaccine to make sure you don’t have immediate reactions to the vaccine.
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Should I take pain relievers before or after I get my vaccine?
The CDC does not recommend taking pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Tylenol®, Advil®, etc.) before getting your COVID-19 vaccine (CDC). It is not known how these medicines may affect how well the vaccine works. Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines, or acetaminophen for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You might be able to take one of these medicines for side effects after your vaccine if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally.
If your doctor has recommended that you take pain relievers regularly or even daily for certain conditions, do not stop taking them before your vaccine without first consulting your doctor.
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Will I have to take time off of work due to vaccine side effects?
You might have mild to moderate side effects, but that is normal. Some people will experience side effects for a few days like pain or swelling in the arm, fever, chills, headaches and tiredness. This is normal, and just means your immune system is working. Some people do not have side effects.
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Do I need to keep the Vaccination Card that I receive after my first dose?
Yes. The card can serve as proof of vaccination and help remind you of the date you are eligible for an additional dose or booster.
Source: dshs.texas.gov -
If you misplaced your Vaccination Card after receiving your vaccine through Texas Health, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine record in several ways. These include: MyChart or the Health Information Management Department at Texas Health. If you received your vaccine through Texas Health or another provider, you can also get your vaccine record through ImmTrac. We are unable to recreate a Vaccination Card.
Download step-by-step instructions on the different ways you can get proof of vaccination.
Why Should I Get Vaccinated?
Caring for your community means first protecting your own health. Even young and healthy people can get seriously ill from COVID-19 and emerging variants.
If you are immunocompromised or have an underlying medical condition, it is especially important for you to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Join the fight against COVID-19 and get vaccinated today for a safer tomorrow. To find a vaccine location near you visit vaccines.gov.
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Is the vaccine effective against COVID-19 variants?
Breakthrough infections can occur in people who are fully vaccinated, but vaccination and boosters are still the best protection against COVID-19 and emerging variants. (CDC)
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Should I get the vaccine if I’ve had COVID-19?
Yes. The CDC recommends vaccination even if you already had COVID-19. Data shows that COVID-19 vaccines offer a higher level of protection than natural immunity alone and can help prevent reinfections. (CDC)
Individuals who are known COVID-19 positive should wait to get the vaccine until they are symptom free and no longer require isolation. The CDC isolation guidelines can be found here. People who have had COVID-19 may want to check with their primary care provider to see when it is OK to start their vaccines.
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Are the COVID-19 vaccines FDA approved?
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines that have received FDA-approval or emergency use authorization here.
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Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccines?
It is not possible to get COVID-19 from vaccines. The Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines do not use the actual COVID-19 virus to trigger a person’s immune system to make antibodies to protect you against COVID-19.
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Will the vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19?
No. It is not possible to test positive for COVID-19 from the vaccines. The tests are looking for a current infection or antibodies that reflect a past infection, and the vaccines do not use the actual COVID-19 virus to trigger a person’s immune system to make protective antibodies against COVID-19. (CDC)
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Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for people with underlying health conditions?
If you are immunocompromised or have an underlying medical condition, it is especially important for you to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
To find a vaccine location near you visit vaccines.gov.
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Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine both recommend that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to be pregnant receive a COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine series.
Similarly, the CDC also recommends vaccination for people pregnant, breastfeeding or wanting to start a family. According to the CDC website, “evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.” Additionally, the CDC also indicates that there is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.
Individuals should consult their physician for questions specific to their situation.
On May 5, 2022, due to an elevated risk of blood clots, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limited the authorized use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA recommends the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be given only to those 18 years and older who 1.) cannot receive a different COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or 2.) elect to get the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because they would otherwise not get a COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more here.
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Will the vaccines make me infertile?
COVID-19 vaccines are not likely to present a risk if you are trying to become pregnant now or in the future. (CDC)
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How many doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will I need?
Visit the CDC website for up-to-date recommendations and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. You can use the CDC's online tool to determine if you are eligible for a booster.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for primary vaccine doses and boosters (CDC).
To find a vaccine location near you visit vaccines.gov.
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What are severe allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines?
Some people may have allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. There are different levels of allergic reactions to the vaccines. Unlike side effects, allergic reactions are serious reactions medications or vaccines. (CDC). A list of vaccine ingredients is here.
You can report serious or non-serious COVID-19 vaccine-related reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is a system that monitors the safety of vaccines after they are authorized or licensed for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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What are the side effects of the vaccine?
It’s important to know the difference between side effects and allergic reactions. Side effects are your body’s natural response to medications or vaccines. These are minor, expected changes that go away in a few days.
Side effects for the COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be similar to, but perhaps more pronounced than, the side effects some people experience following the flu vaccine. These can include fever, chills, headache and injection site reactions (soreness/pain, redness, muscle aches). The manufacturers said the vaccines are safe and effective, and that most of the side effects resolved shortly after the doses were given.
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How do I report side effects from the vaccine?
If you received a COVID-19 vaccine in the last six weeks, v-safe is a way that you can tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if you have any side effects from the vaccine. This smartphone tool uses text messaging and web surveys that allow you to provide health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Participation in v-safe helps keep COVID-19 vaccines safe. Learn more at vsafe.cdc.gov.
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Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am getting a long-acting steroid injection for another condition (for example, a steroid injection into a joint or into the spine)?
People who get musculoskeletal steroid shots may want to wait to receive their COVID-19 vaccine 2 weeks before and/or 1 week after getting a steroid shot. Recently, several professional medical societies have updated their guidance for patients receiving musculoskeletal steroid injections. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.”
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Will the vaccines change my DNA?
No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
On April 23, 2021, the CDC and the FDA lifted the temporary pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A safety review found that a very rare, but serious condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) can develop, causing blood clots and low blood platelets. Nearly all reports of this serious condition have been in adult women younger than 50 years old. Women younger than 50 years old should be aware of their increased chance of having TTS and that there are other COVID-19 vaccine options available for which this risk has not been seen. The CDC and FDA lifted the temporary pause because a review of the data found that the known and potential benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine.
**On June 23, 2021, the latest data on reports of mild cases of inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding tissue called myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination among younger people states that this is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment. In addition, myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if someone gets COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe. (HHS)