COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

Vaccines are designed to stimulate the human body’s own protective immune response, so that if a person is infected, their immune system can recognize the infection and react to it. While vaccines are developed in different ways using different methods, it’s important to remember that they can’t give you COVID-19.

Both currently available mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna require two doses. You’ll get an initial vaccination, then a second shot — three weeks later for the Pfizer vaccine or four weeks later for the Moderna vaccine. Per the CDC, second dose shots for both can be administered up to six weeks after the first if necessary.

The second dose stimulates a greater immune response, offering the recipient far more protection from COVID-19. The appointment for your second dose will be scheduled during your first appointment.

The Janssen/J&J vaccine is administered as a single shot that provides maximum protection 28 days after administration.

The CDC states that the vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States are safe and effective. These vaccines have been tested in large, Phase 3 clinical trials and are held to the same rigorous standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States. The approved vaccines were found to be safe and effective in tens of thousands of adults who participated in Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials — widely considered the gold standard for testing pharmaceuticals.

There’s no out-of-pocket cost to you to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Scientists anticipate that most recipients will experience mild to moderate flu-like side effects, including fatigue, chills, muscle aches and fever. These side effects should resolve in one to two days, and show your immune system is responding to the vaccine.

After you receive the vaccine, you need to remain onsite for at least 15 minutes so we can monitor you for severe allergic reactions and provide immediate treatment if needed.

Learn more about what you can expect after your COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the CDC, if you’ve 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. Please see the Pfizer and Moderna Fact Sheets for ingredient lists and more information. If you had a severe allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends that you should not get the second dose. An evaluation and treatment by an allergist may enable you to receive the second dose.

According to Jansen/J&J, you should not receive the Janssen/J&J viral vector vaccine if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine. Please see the Janssen/J&J Fact Sheet for an ingredient list and more information.

Yes, masking and physical distancing will continue to be critical tools in preventing transmission until a large percentage of the population is vaccinated. We’re also awaiting more information about the long-term protection of the vaccines.

Groups now eligible to schedule include:

• Patients age 50 and older.
• Healthcare workers.
• Essential workers: Agriculture and food, education and childcare, emergency services and public transit/airport and commercial airlines.
• People age 16-49 with severe health conditions or disabilities.
• Individuals who reside or work in congregate residential settings, including those experiencing homelessness.

If you're age 16-17 and in an eligible group, you can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. Call (844) 987-6115.

Verification

Healthcare Workers: Please be prepared to show verification of your healthcare worker status at your visit. This can be a badge, license, paystub or other type of identifying paperwork.

Essential Workers: You’ll be asked to attest to your employment in an essential capacity when you schedule your vaccination appointment.

People Age 16-49 With Severe Conditions or Disabilities: If your condition is documented in your electronic health record, you’ll be directed to scheduling. If not, you may be asked to attest to your severe health condition, as defined by the state of California, before scheduling.

No, you’re not required by Sutter Health or the state of California to bring a letter to your appointment. If your condition is documented in your electronic health record in My Health Online, you’ll be directed to scheduling. If not, you may be asked to attest to your severe health condition before scheduling.

In your web browser, sign in to My Health Online and choose COVID-19 High-Risk Documentation under Quick Links. In the My Health Online mobile app, select COVID-19 High-Risk Doc on the home screen. Once the letter is generated, you can print or take a screenshot of it.

If you’re a new patient, don’t have a My Health Online account or don’t have a documented severe health condition, and you’re getting vaccinated outside of Sutter, please contact your primary care provider for a letter if one is required for your appointment.

The timeline for distribution depends on vaccine supply and the guidance of public health officials. Vaccine supply is limited and unpredictable, and we’re unable to give specific dates. We’ll notify our eligible patients and provide instructions on booking a vaccination appointment.

This page will have the most up-to-date information about the vaccine rollout. As eligibility expands, we’ll notify our patients and provide instructions on booking a vaccination appointment.

We need to keep our COVID-19 Vaccine call center and online booking through My Health Online available to help eligible patients book their vaccination appointments. If you’re not yet eligible for a vaccine, please check for updates and watch for email notifications. Please don’t contact your provider about scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments or granting eligibility exceptions.

If you’re not yet enrolled in My Health Online, sign up now to easily schedule appointments, including your COVID-19 vaccination when it’s your group’s turn.

Sutter vaccination sites are making every effort to let no dose go unused. In cases where there are appointment cancellations or remaining vaccine at the end of the day, we contact scheduled patients to come in early. All vaccinations are by appointment only.

Unless specifically indicated otherwise, you should be able to go ahead with most routine procedures and screenings either before or after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. However, talk to your doctor about getting a vaccine if you’re scheduling a surgery, hospitalization or a procedure that requires anesthesia.

Please wait 4-6 weeks after vaccination to schedule your mammogram. Learn more.

Our ability to schedule new appointments is dependent on vaccine supply. While supply is still currently limited, we’re hopeful that additional vaccine allocation will allow us to open appointment availability at all our vaccination sites. We ask for your patience as we work to balance vaccine supply with increased demand due to expanded vaccine eligibility.

As a Sutter patient, you don’t need to be vaccinated by Sutter, and you may choose to get vaccinated elsewhere. For help finding other vaccination sites near you, the state of California has compiled a list of local COVID-19 resource websites.