How To Get Covid Vaccine In Georgia

En español | Who is eligible to get vaccinated?

Everyone age 5 and up.

Who's eligible for booster shots?

Adults 65 and older and people ages 18 and up with underlying health conditions or who work or live in settings that put them at high risk for COVID-19 exposure are eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says . People 18 and up who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster dose at least two months after the first shot.

Third doses of Pfizer and Moderna, distinct from boosters, are available for specific immunocompromised people , including organ transplant recipients and certain cancer patients. These recipients may also get a booster — a fourth dose — at least six months after the third shot, according to CDC guidance .

Can I mix and match boosters?

It's safe and effective to choose which vaccine you receive as a booster - whether it's the one you got initially or another vaccine, according to CDC recommendations.

Which vaccines are authorized for kids?

Pfizer's vaccine is authorized for children age 5 and older; the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for those 18 and older. Pfizer's vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds is one-third the dose given to people age 12 and up, and is given in two doses, three weeks apart, according to CDC recommendations . Shots for kids are available at doctors' offices and certain retail pharmacies. Call your doctor or check pharmacy websites. Both Pfizer and Moderna are researching how their vaccines work in children as young as 6 months.

Where can I get a vaccine or a booster?

Federal and state-run vaccination sites:You can use the health department's website to find a site near you or make an appointment. A complete list of vaccine locations is available on the state's vaccine site locator , which covers hospitals, local health departments, local pharmacies, drugstores, and mass vaccination sites. You can set up an appointment online or call 888-457-0186. Georgia's COVID-19 data dashboard is tracking how many people have been vaccinated in the state.

Pharmacies,including CVS , Walgreens and Walmart locations are offering first shots and boosters and, in some cases, don't require appointments for vaccinations. But if you'd prefer to schedule your shot in advance, follow the links to book online. A list of independent pharmacies offering vaccinations is available on the state COVID-19 website . Note that some pharmacy websites require you to answer questions about your vaccination status before presenting the option for a booster. Many pharmacies also allow you to book an appointment for the specific vaccine you prefer.

Homebound Georgians can request a COVID-19 vaccination in their home. Email the health department at HVS@dph.ga.gov and include the following information: name, date of birth, address, and phone number or call 888-457-0186.

The federal government's vaccines website, www.vaccines.gov , lets you search for vaccination sites offering first shots and boosters by zip code, with links to appointments. Get the same information by texting your zip code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233 (TTY: 888-720-7489).

Many transit agencies are offering free or discount rides to and from vaccination sites.

Veterans Affairs facilities are vaccinating veterans, spouses and veteran caregivers . You can sign up with VA .

A federally-backed online tool called VaccineFinder lets you search for vaccination sites by zip code, with links to appointments.

Georgia Gov. Kemp Visits Chatham County Health Department As First Covid Vaccinations Are Administered — A health care worker receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Savannah.

What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Officials recommend that you bring a driver's license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency, and your health insurance card, if you have one. You will not be charged, but the vaccine provider may bill your insurer a fee for administering the vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to wear a mask at your appointment.

How are vaccinations working in nursing homes and long-term care facilities?

Most residents and staff of Georgia's long-term care facilities were offered first and second doses through a federal program that provided free on-site vaccinations in late 2020 and early 2021. The program has ended, but the federal government continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to pharmacies that are partnered with long-term care facilities to provide vaccinations, mainly on-site.

Facilities that don't have a pharmacy partner are encouraged to work with local or state health departments — or the federal government, if need be — to provide vaccinations.

AARP is calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for nursing home residents and staff . The federal government has ordered all nursing home staff be vaccinated in order to receive Medicare and Medicaid dollars.

Which vaccines require two initial shots?

Both Pfizer and Moderna require two doses. If you get one of these, you'll need a follow-up dose to be effectively immunized. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine requires just one shot. A Food and Drug Administration warning says the vaccine has been connected with rare, severe blood clots in a small number of recipients, especially in women age 50 years and younger, and an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

Do I have to pay for the vaccination?

You should not have any out-of-pocket costs for getting the vaccine. AARP fought to make sure the federal government is covering the cost of the vaccine itself. The federal government is buying the vaccine and getting it to providers for free.

In Georgia, processing costs of up to $21.93 may be passed along to vaccine recipients, but they must be waived if deemed too costly, according to Georgia's state vaccination plan. There are reports of scammers purporting to offer COVID vaccines and treatments and trying to charge for them. AARP's Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

What should I do with my vaccine card?

You should get a small white card at your vaccination appointment with your name, birth date, name of the vaccine you received and the date it was administered. If you receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, bring your card when you get your second shot.

You may need your vaccine card to schedule a third vaccine dose, for certain immunocompromised people, or a booster shot. You may also need it for certain kinds of travel or other activities and may want to take a photo of it with your smartphone for your own records. But experts warn that posting a photo of your card to social media could make you vulnerable to identity theft .

If you've lost your vaccine card, call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record. You can also contact the state health department to request a replacement card or a copy of your record.

How protected am I post-vaccination? I've heard about breakthrough infections.

Should I still wear a mask after getting vaccinated?

  It takes two weeks to build immunity after the single-dose shot and after the second dose of the two-dose shots. Due to the continuing circulation of the Delta variant, the CDC is recommending fully vaccinated people in areas with high and substantial COVID-19 transmission wear a mask in indoor settings, including schools. The CDC recommends continuing to wear a mask on planes, buses and trains and other shared transport while traveling into, within or out of the United States.

This guide was updated on Nov. 3 with new information about the authorization of the vaccine for kids age 5 to 11.

Also  of Interest:

What you need to know about the coronavirus
8 Things to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots
Read AARP's full coronavirus coverage