Covid Vaccine
Protecting public health and reopening the State's economy now depends on millions of Californians getting vaccinated. The following information details vaccine safety and delivery:
Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Two vaccines, both based on messenger RNA (mRNA), have been authorized for emergency use. Visit the links below to understand how these vaccines and others work. Once you are vaccinated, it will help your body develop immunity to the COVID-19 virus without you having to get sick first.
- Orange County's Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
- CDC's Understanding how COVID-19 Vaccines Work
- CDC's Myths and Misconceptions about COVID-19 Vaccination
- Trust the Truth: Not the Myths
- View a presentation on the COVID-19 Vaccine by Dr. Sajen Mathews, Chief Medical Officer at St. Jude Medical Center and a Yorba Linda resident.
Who is currently eligible?
As of April 15, anyone age 16 and over who lives or works in Orange County is now eligible to make a vaccination appointment. Vaccination appointments will continue to be offered in a prioritized manner based on eligibility groupings and age. To view who is currently eligible to receive a vaccine or prior eligibility groups, visit the OC Health Care Agency’s website.
How to Get Vaccinated
The County of Orange is moving quickly to make the COVID-19 vaccination available to everyone in Orange County. Named Operation Independence, the County is setting up regional vaccine points of dispensing (POD) sites, called Super PODs, that can perform thousands of vaccinations every day.
Registering for a Vaccine Appointment At a CoUNTY SUPER POD SITE
To register to receive a vaccination appointment at a County Super POD site, visit Othena.com, select the "First Time User" button, and answer the questions. After registering, users will be put into a digital waiting room to wait their turn for a vaccine appointment. The Othena system generates email appointment invitations as soon as appointments open up at a vaccine dispensing location. If users download the Othena app, the app will notify users when appointments become available. Appointments are limited by vaccine supply, so please be patient as you may not be able to get an appointment immediately after registering.
If you do not have access to an internet-connected device to sign up online or need help with the registration process, please call the OC Health Care Agency's hotline at 714-834-2000. The hotline is available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live, trained operators who can answer questions related to Othena and vaccine-related issues.
COUNTY Vaccine Super POD Locations
Eligible individuals with an appointment must present identification and proof of eligibility at the Super POD site of their appointment to receive a vaccine. The Super POD sites are not accepting walk-up appointments. The following Super POD sites are currently operating:
| County Vaccination POD Site | Vaccine Type | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Convention Center Super POD | Moderna | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (7 days/week) |
| Disneyland Drive-Thru POD (CLOSED) | n/a | This site is now closed and is not planned to reopen. |
| Soka University Super POD | Pfizer | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (7 days/week) Tuesdays: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
| OC Fair & Event Center Super POD | Pfizer | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (7 days/week) Thursdays: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
| Santa Ana College Community POD (Now serving the general public with appointments) | Pfizer | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (7 days/week) Mondays: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. |
Other Vaccination PrOVIDERS
The County Super PODs and mobile clinics are not the only options to receive a vaccination. Other healthcare providers approved to dispense the vaccine, including hospitals, pharmacies, and health clinics, play an essential role in vaccinating Orange County’s population.
The following Hospitals/Medical Providers in Orange County are distributing the vaccine:
The following pharmacy chains in Orange County are distributing the vaccine:
For more vaccination providers, please visit the County's website. Please be advised that only people who are eligible to receive the vaccine will be provided a vaccine by any provider. Please check with your healthcare provider to inquire if they will be offering vaccinations appointments.
After Getting Vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that after you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (2 weeks after your final dose, or first dose if you received a vaccine that does not require a second dose), you should continue taking precautions, such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces while in public places until more information is known. However, based on what is known about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic, such as:
- You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart;
- You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks or staying 6 feet apart unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19; and
- If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control website for more information.
For more information
Residents can also visit COVIDVaccineFacts.com for the latest information on who is currently eligible to receive the vaccination and learn about its safety and efficacy. For questions related to COVID-19, visit ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus. For all other questions, please call the County of Orange COVID-19 hotline at 714-834-2000. The hotline is available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live, trained operators.