COVID-19 Vaccine Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution at Community Health Alliance
Your COVID-19 vaccine clinic was organized so well, and everyone who assisted me were pleasant, professional and seemed to really enjoy helping the community. – Susie
Community Health Alliance is providing the COVID-19 vaccine to patients and non-patients by appointment only in the following ways:
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine for people who are 18 years of age or older
- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 5 as long as a parent or legal guardian is present
- Third Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised (see below for details)
- Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster for people who are 18 years of age or older (see below for details)
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine booster for people who are 18 years of age or older (see below for details)
Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster.
Vaccines will be administered inside select health centers.
If you do not have access to a computer or need an Uber voucher to get your COVID-19 vaccine, please call our Wells Ave. Health Center pharmacy at (775) 336-3035.
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Aged 5-11
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone aged 5 years and older after the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) authorized the use for those aged 5-11 on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Per the Washoe County Health District, below are important details regarding the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those 5-11 years old:
- Only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available for those aged 5-11
- Two doses are recommended, with the second dose due three weeks after the first
- The dosage for children aged 5-11 is 1/3rd the size of a standard Pfizer dose
- The vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children aged 5-11
- The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children ages 5-11 who received the vaccine and no serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study
Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
Community Health Alliance is providing the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose of Pfizer and Moderna to those who are 18 and older who have completed their initial two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago.
Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
Third COVID-19 Dose for the Immunocompromised
Community Health Alliance is providing the third COVID-19 vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna to people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and meet certain criteria outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Those eligible include people who have received two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna and the second dose was at least 28 days ago AND:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
We advise that people should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
What to Expect
We ask that you wear a mask and bring the following to your appointment:
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- Identification
- Insurance card and Medicare red, white and blue card (if applicable)
- Clothing with easy access to your arm
- Your CDC vaccine card from your first appointment (if applicable)
- Completed COVID-19 Vaccine Informed Consent Form – English | Spanish
- Completed COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Informed Consent Form – English | Spanish
- Completed COVID-19 Vaccine Informed Consent Form (Ages 5-11) – English | Spanish
- If you are unable to print the form and complete it prior to your appointment, you will have the opportunity to fill it out on-site
After registering for an appointment online with Community Health Alliance, you will receive a confirmation text message or email to remind you of your appointment. You will also receive status updates on where you are in the queue on the day of your appointment. If you need to cancel your appointment, we ask you to cancel 24 hours in advance so that we can fill your spot accordingly.
When you receive your vaccine, our team of medical providers will ask you to wait a minimum of 10 minutes to observe for any immediate reactions to the vaccine.
After you receive your first dose with Community Health Alliance, we will reschedule your second dose three weeks from your first dose. It is highly recommended that you make this appointment and time a priority as you will not be guaranteed a second dose on another date.
You are not advised to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are ill at the time of your vaccination
- You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
- You have had anaphylaxis to the COVID-19 vaccine
V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker
After your first vaccine, we recommend that you get started with CDC’s V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker, a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins.
COVID-19 Vaccine Types
Learn more about the three vaccine types available at Community Health Alliance:
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
Have Questions?
Please visit the Regional Information Center’s website for the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine information – including who the vaccine is currently available for in Washoe County and vaccine safety questions.