Monday, February 8, 2021
The COVID-19 vaccination started in mid-December 2020. With the population of over three million in Orange County, over 242,000 people have been vaccinated with either the first or both doses so far. However, it is still confusing for many to understand the vaccination process. For your convenience, we have put together this piece of important information regarding how to register and receive the COVID-19 vaccine in OC. Hopefully, you will find it helpful.
- Three of the few organizations offering COVID-19 vaccine to the eligible population in OC are mentioned below:
- Othena
- CVS Pharmacy
- Walgreens Pharmacy
Registration steps
Othena
- To register, go to the Smartphone App or visit: https://covid19.othena.com/patient-registration/agreement?lang=en
- Agree to the consent and answer screening questions correctly.
- If you are eligible, fill out the form and select from the available appointment dates. You will be sent an email confirmation with location and time.
- If you are not eligible, you can still register yourself. You will be notified when it’s your turn. It may take weeks or months.
- As of now, the two locations (super POD* sites) for vaccination in Orange County through Othena are Disneyland and SOKA University.
CVS Pharmacy
- Registration opens on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
- Vaccination begins on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
- To make an appointment, go to www.cvs.com, call (800)746-7287, or use CVS smartphone app and register yourself.
- Must have an appointment before showing up.
Participating CVS locations in Orange County
- Irvine
- Newport Beach
- Huntington Beach
For updated information on participating locations in or outside OC, please refer to the CVS website.
Walgreens Pharmacy
- Download and complete the vaccination consent form at the bottom of the page. Don’t forget to take it with you on the day of the appointment.
- Click “Get Started” and create an account with Walgreens if you don’t already have one.
- Answer screening questions correctly and choose from available locations and times.
- You can schedule for both Dose 1 and Dose 2 appointments at the same time.
- You should receive a confirmation email with details.
Criteria for a smooth vaccination process
- Eligibility: As of now, all tiers in Phase 1 are eligible. To see if you fall under Phase 1, click here.
- Make sure to take all the required documents with you on the day of appointment. These should be mentioned in your confirmation email.
- Currently, the vaccines are NOT recommended for children under the age of 16.
- Vaccine suitable for age 16 and older: Pfizer
- Vaccine suitable for age 18 and older: Moderna
- Make sure your child is receiving the correct vaccine by asking the healthcare provider who is administering it.
- You should consult your primary care provider before receiving the vaccine if you have severe allergies or if you have any other concerns.
To find out more ways to receive the COVID vaccine, check with your employer or visit OC Healthcare website. Sign-up for COVID-19 vaccine notifications here. There are some hospital affiliated vaccinations available as well. Please refer to your preferred hospital’s website to find out if they are participating.
States receive vaccines from the federal government on a weekly basis based on their adult population. There is generally more demand than supply. So, if you do not get an appointment the first time, then check back frequently.
By ICOI Health Committee
*POD= Point of Distribution
Resources:
d) https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/vaccines-administered-oc
Disclaimer:
- Due to the constantly evolving situation with COVID-19 and its vaccination, the information presented in this post is subject to change. For updated information, please check OC Healthcare website. ● The sole purpose of this post is to inform the community of the vaccination process as collected from sources generally considered reliable. ICOI or ICOI Health Committee is not responsible for vaccination appointments, cancellations or the reaction to the vaccines. Anyone concerned about vaccines should consult with their primary care physicians prior to receiving the vaccine.
