COVID-19 Vaccine
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Updated September 29, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine information is evolving rapidly. This page provides emerging information and may change rapidly. Please check this page often for updates. To view the entire CDC page with the most up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
COVID Vaccination Consent Form
Parent/Guardian Consent for Minor Patients seeking a COVID vaccination. Please complete the COVID Vaccination Consent Form and bring it with you to your vaccination appointment for patients under the age of 18.
Make Your Vaccination Appointment at: My Turn
Vaccination Opportunities in Tulare County
COVID Vaccination Locations
COVID-19 Vaccinations are available through various pharmacies, health care providers, and at mobile vaccination events. Those interested in scheduling an appointment to get their COVID vaccine these locations can register for an appointment on the statewide COVID Vaccination platform, My Turn at: https://myturn.ca.gov/. For those without internet access can call 1-888-422-4255 to make an appointment.
COVID Booster Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Certain populations are seeing a slight decrease in preventing infection. Booster Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended to high-risk populations to ensure ongoing protection.
A third Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine is recommended if:
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Age 65 years or older; or
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Long-term care residents; or
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Age 50-64 years old with medical conditions with any high-risk medical, social, or living conditions
A third Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine may also be considered if:
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Age 18-49 with medical conditions
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Age 18-64 with increased risk of exposure due to their work or institutional setting
Examples of medical conditions include diabetes, pregnancy, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, overweight/obesity, or smoking. Examples of occupations include essential or frontline workers such as those in agriculture, manufacturing, schools, corrections, food or grocery, healthcare and first responders. Those with questions should talk with their healthcare provider.
Booster vaccines are only given at least 6 months or later after the second vaccine dose in those previously vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. They can be obtained at any clinic or pharmacy which has Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available. Booster vaccines are not required to be considered fully vaccinated. Booster vaccines have not been authorized for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines at this time.
This new booster recommendation is separate from the recommendation that immunocompromised persons receive a third dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. These persons are still eligible. See additional information below for booster vaccines for individuals who are immunocompromised.
Persons who have not received the vaccine are five times more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and more than 10 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than persons who did receive the vaccine. Tulare County Public Health encourages anyone who has not been vaccinated to start their vaccination now. It is important to complete the vaccine series to be protected, even if it has been more than 28 days since the first dose. COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine. Vaccinating more people in our community is the primary way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help reduce the burden on our hospitals. Visit myturn.ca.gov to make an appointment and find a location.
Booster Vaccinations for Immunocompromised Individuals
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is now recommending a third dose booster for the COVID-19 vaccine no sooner than 28 days after individuals complete their vaccine series, for individuals who are immunocompromised and received Pfizer or Moderna for first/second doses. Those who qualify as immunocompromised, as identified by the CDC, are as follows:
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Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
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Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
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Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
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Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
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Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
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Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
Whenever possible, mRNA COVID-19 vaccination doses (including the primary series and an additional dose) should be completed at least two weeks before initiation or resumption of immunosuppressive therapies, but timing of COVID-19 vaccination should take into consideration current or planned immunosuppressive therapies and optimization of both the patient’s medical condition and response to vaccine.
Talk to you provider about when to take the any immunosuppressive medication after receiving the vaccine.
It is important, when possible, to get the additional dose of the same type of COVID-19 vaccine as the first & second dose. You can verify what you received through the digital vaccine record; and can obtain this verification from: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/. Please work with your care provider to determine if you are eligible for the third dose, and schedule an appointment. In the event your provider is not offering the vaccine you received initially please visit MyTurn.Ca.Gov. Tulare County vaccine events will require individuals to attest that they are immunocompromised and are eligible as described above.
At this time, an additional dose is not recommended for those who received Johnson & Johnson. It continues to be important for all individuals to take precautions against COVID-19 such as masking, distancing and avoiding groups and crowds. For frequently asked questions on boosters please visit CDPH for the most current information at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ThirdVaccineDoseQandA.aspx
Lost Your COVID Vaccination Card? How to Obtain Your COVID-19 Vaccination Record
When you are needing a new verification of vaccination, here is what you need to know. California Department of Public Health has developed a system to obtain a copy of your vaccination record.
1. Visit: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
2. A record can also be requested over the phone by calling 833-422-4255.
3. Additional information about correcting a vaccine record and frequently asked questions can be found at: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/faq
COVID Vaccine Information
