Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

You can visit the state public health website at www.floridahealth.gov for the most up-to-date information. Some local information may be different from state plans. Be sure to check your local public health website at www.floridahealth.gov. Select your county from the drop-down menu.

How much does a COVID-19 vaccine cost?

You can receive a vaccine at no cost to you.

When will a COVID-19 vaccine be available?

The CDC says the vaccines currently approved and authorized for emergency use are now more widely available.¹

Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Where you can get a vaccine will vary by community. To find where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine, follow one of these steps:²

Search vaccines.gov.
Text your ZIP code to 438829.*
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY: 888-720-7489) to find vaccine facilities near you.

Contact your chosen facility to set up your COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Talk with your health care provider and/or pharmacist about getting vaccinated if you choose to get it. You can ask them any questions you have.

* Standard messaging and data fees may apply.

I am pregnant. Should I get a vaccine?

Talk with your health care provider about this decision.³

What is the delta variant? Does getting a COVID-19 vaccine protect me from it?

The COVID-19 delta variant is a more contagious version of the COVID-19 virus. The CDC says that the delta variant now causes most of new U.S. COVID-19 infections.⁴

The CDC says that getting a vaccine helps prevent severe illness and death from the COVID-19 virus. It also helps protect us from the delta variant. The CDC urges people who have not yet gotten a COVID-19 vaccine to:⁵

Arrange to get a COVID-19 vaccine
Continue wearing a mask until you are fully vaccinated.

Wearing a mask can also be important for other reasons. It may still be important for you to wear a mask after you are fully vaccinated.⁶

One reason to keep wearing a mask is if you are in an area of high risk of getting the COVID-19 virus. The CDC says that if you are in one of these areas, it’s best to wear a mask indoors in public. This can best protect you from the COVID-19 virus, including the delta variant.⁶

The CDC says it’s also best to wear a mask indoors in public if you or someone in your household:⁶

Has a weakened immune system.
Is at higher risk for a severe COVID-19 infection because of age or a medical condition.
Is unvaccinated.

For the full guidelines for wearing a mask, visit the CDC website. We encourage you to follow the CDC guidelines for resuming activities once you are fully vaccinated. You should also continue to follow COVID-19 guidance in your community. For example, follow the guidance at your workplace and local businesses.

You can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. Need help with getting an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine shot? Call AmeriHealth Caritas Florida at 1-855-355-9800 (TTY 1-855-358-5856).

How can I get to my COVID-19 vaccine appointment?

Need a ride to your appointment? We can help. Call Member Services at 1-855-355-9800 (TTY 1-855-358-5856) to schedule a ride.

Can my kids get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Everyone ages 12 and older is eligible to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Currently, three COVID-19 vaccines are approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:¹¹

The Pfizer vaccine has full approval for everyone ages 16 and older. This vaccine is also authorized for emergency use for youth ages 12 to 15.
The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are currently authorized for emergency use for everyone ages 18 and older.

I don’t have a doctor. How do I get a vaccine?

You can receive a vaccine without seeing your health care provider. To find where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine, follow one of these steps:²

Search vaccines.gov.
Text your ZIP code to 438829.*
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY: 888-720-7489) to find vaccine facilities near you.

We can help you connect with your assigned PCP.

* Standard messaging and data fees may apply

Can getting a COVID-19 vaccine give you COVID-19?

According to the CDC, you can’t get COVID-19 from the vaccines that are currently approved and authorized for emergency use.

How do I know when I am fully vaccinated?

When you are fully vaccinated depends on which COVID-19 vaccine you get. The CDC considers people fully vaccinated:⁵

Two weeks after their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that comes in two doses. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are examples of vaccines that come in two doses.
Two weeks after they get a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that comes in one dose. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a vaccine that is only one dose.

Are there side effects to getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC says that you may have some side effects from getting a vaccine. These are normally signs that your body is building protection against the COVID-19 virus. The side effects should go away in a few days.¹ Connect with your health care provider and/or pharmacist for more information on vaccine side effects. You can also learn more on the CDC website.

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a vaccine?

The CDC recommends getting a vaccine even if you have had COVID-19 and recovered.⁸
Talk with your health care provider and/or pharmacist about this decision.

Do I still need to wear a mask if I get a vaccine? Do I still need to follow other COVID-19 public health guidelines if I get a vaccine?

Wearing a mask can be important for many reasons. It may still be important for you to wear a mask after you are fully vaccinated.⁶

The CDC says it’s also best to wear a mask indoors in public if you or someone in your household:⁶

Has a weakened immune system.
Is at higher risk for a severe COVID-19 infection because of age or a medical condition.
Is unvaccinated.

For the full guidelines for wearing a mask, visit the CDC website. We encourage you to follow the CDC guidelines for resuming activities once you are fully vaccinated. To access the current guidelines, visit the CDC website. You should also continue to follow COVID-19 guidance in your community. For example, follow the guidance at your workplace and local businesses.

If your immune system may be weakened by medicines or a health condition, talk with your health care provider. Ask them about your protection against COVID-19 after you are fully vaccinated. They can tell you which COVID-19 precautions to continue.⁶

If I already have gotten the flu shot, does that protect me from COVID-19?

The CDC says getting a flu shot helps protect you from getting the flu. It does not protect you from COVID-19.⁹

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine when I get another vaccine?

Yes. The CDC says that we no longer need to wait 14 days between the COVID-19 vaccination and other vaccinations, like the flu vaccine. If your COVID-19 vaccine facility gives another vaccine for which you are eligible, you may receive it when you get a COVID-19 vaccine.¹⁰

If I get a vaccine, does everyone in my household have to get it?

There is no federal requirement to get a vaccine. Some places may require vaccination, so check local guidance.

Will vaccination sites have interpreters or translated materials?

The available services may vary by site. Once you know you are eligible for vaccination and where you can be vaccinated, contact that site for more information on their services.

Or, you can get interpretation services through AmeriHealth Caritas Florida at no cost to you by calling Member Services at 1-855-355-9800 (TTY 1-855-358-5856).

What if I have other medical questions about the vaccines and how they work?

You can contact your health care provider and/or pharmacist for more information. You can also visit your state public health website at www.floridahealth.gov for the most up-to-date information. Some local information may be different from state plans. Be sure to check your local public health website at www.floridahealth.gov. Select your county from the drop-down menu. Or you can visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov. Check each site often to get the latest information.

Sources:

“Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html.
“How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine?” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/How-Do-I-Get-a-COVID-19-Vaccine.html.
“COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html.
“Variant Proportions,” CDC, https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions.
“About Variants of the Virus That Causes COVID-19,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant.html.
“When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.
“Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Adolescents in Another Important Action in Fight Against Pandemic,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use.
“Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Vaccination,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.
“What are the benefits of flu vaccination?,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm.
“Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html.
“Different COVID-19 Vaccines,” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html.

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