COVID-19 Vaccine: FAQs and Appointments
COVID Vaccinations
COVID vaccines and boosters are available at most of our clinic locations in New Haven, as well as our Shoreline Family Health Care location in Branford. You do not need to be a FHCHC patient. COVID vaccines are open to all individuals 6 months of age or older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for their vaccination.
Vaccine appointments are available by calling 203-777-7411.
Vaccine types and eligibility by age
Vaccines are offered at no cost to you. Please provide insurance information, as applicable.
FHCHC is currently offering third / booster shots of the new Omicron variant booster (also known as bivalent) from Pfizer for any individual age 5 and up, who is at least two months past their last COVID injection or COVID illness.
- Individuals ages 65+ years or anyone with an immunocompromising condition (e.g. cancer, organ transplant, on immunosuppressive medications) are especially encouraged to get the new booster targeting the Omicron variant. This booster is also referred to as a bivalent booster.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID0-19 vaccines are approved for children ages 6 months through 5 years.
The Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years will be a two-dose primary series. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years will be a three-dose primary series.
The Pfizer booster is available for children ages 5-17.
All children under 18 must have a parent or guardian present.
FHCHC is currently administering Pfizer and Moderna 1 & 2 Dose vaccines. Please note, while both vaccines are usually offered, fluctuations in inventory may change short-term availability. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Vaccine appointment hours by location
Vaccines are available to all ages by appointment are available at the locations below. Vaccines are offered at no cost to you. Please provide insurance information, as applicable. You need not be a patient. Please call 203-777-7411 to make an appointment.
374 Grand Avenue, New Haven; all ages.
- Mondays, Fridays 9-5
- Tuesdays, Thursdays 9-7
- Wednesdays 10-5
150 Sargent Drive, New Haven; pediatric patients 6 months and older; families welcome.
- Mondays 8:30-7
- Tuesdays, Thursdays 8:30-5
- Wednesdays 10-7
- Fridays 8:30-5
50 Grand Avenue,New Haven; pediatric patients 6 months and older; Families are also welcome.
- Mondays – Friday* 8:30-5
- * delayed opening Wednesdays 10-5
221 W Main Street, Branford; available for all ages.
- Mondays – Friday* 8:30-5
- * delayed opening Wednesdays 10-5
COVID Testing
All COVID testing is done at our 374 Grand Avenue location in New Haven. Please enter on the right side of the building, next to our parking lot entrance. You do not need to be an FHCHC patient. No appointment is needed.
Walk-up COVID Testing is available Monday-Friday, from 8-9am AND 1-2pm. No appointment is needed.
Testing is provided at no cost to you. Please provide insurance information, as applicable.
More about the COVID-19 Vaccine- What You Need to Know
Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. We understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 vaccines are available in the U.S. In an effort to help address your questions and concerns, we are providing more detailed information to you feel better informed about the vaccine.
COVID Third Shots and Booster Shots
The CDC recommends booster shots for anyone who has received the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Individuals 12+ are eligible for the new Omicron variant booster (also referred to as Bivalent).
- The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
- Third dose shots should be given at least 2 months after receiving a second shot, booster, or recovering from being ill with COVID.
Who should get a third dose or booster shot?
Anyone age 5 and up is eligible.
Children between the ages of 5 and 12 will receive the original COVID booster.
Individuals who are immunocompromised and those over 65 are especially encouraged to schedule an appointment for a booster. You should consider a third shot or booster if you:
- Are age 5-17, who have received the Pfizer vaccine and are moderately or severely immunocompromised
- Are actively being treated for cancer
- Have received a solid organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Have received CAR-T cell therapy
- Have received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system after a stem cell transplant
- Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Have advanced or untreated HIV infection (i.e., a CD4 count of less than 200)
- Are taking high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., the equivalent of 20 or more milligrams of Prednisone a day)
- Are getting other drugs that may suppress the immune response (i.e., tumor-necrosis blockers or other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory)
- Third dose shots should be given at least 2 months after receiving a second shot, booster, or having COVID.
- You do NOT need a note from your doctor. Recipients will attest to being immunocompromised but do not need a doctor’s note to get a third dose.
Why did the CDC make this recommendation?
People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised or qualify in other ways are more likely to get very sick if they get COVID-19. They may also have a longer illness. They may not get the same protection from two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as other people do. The available data suggests that they may get more protection from an additional dose of vaccine.
Who is eligible for a booster shot?
Individuals who fall into one of the following categories are eligible for a Booster Shot:
Anyone age 5+, but especially:
- 65 years or older
- Age 18+, with underlying medical conditions
- Age 18 +, working in high-risk settings
- Age 18+, living in long-term care settings
- Age 5-17, who have received the Pfizer vaccine
- Anyone who has received the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- Boosters of the new Pfizer Omicron variant (bivalent) vaccine should be given at least 2 months after receiving a second shot, booster, or recovering from COVID.
Why did the CDC make this recommendation?
The available data suggests booster shots provide increased immunity against COVID-19 and its variants.
Other questions you may have:
- Do I have to get the same vaccine I got for the first two doses? Can I mix and match? Both the FDA and CDC support individuals to receive a booster dose that is a different vaccine type than they originally received for their primary series if they choose. This means that if you got Pfizer for your first two doses, and it is not available, you can get Moderna for the third or booster dose. However, whether you received Pfizer or Moderna, they should not get Johnson & Johnson as a third dose. Also, you should not get more than three doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
- What is the recommendation for individuals who received the one dose J&J vaccine? For individuals who received a J&J vaccine, booster shots are recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. This means that all individuals who received a J&J vaccine should receive a booster.
- Is a third or booster dose safe? While there is not yet a lot of data on reactions to third or booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, so far, reactions seem to be similar to the first two doses of vaccine. Fatigue and pain at the site of the injection are the most common side effects.
- Can I stop wearing masks and social distancing if I get a third or booster shot? While a third (or booster) dose of vaccine may increase the protection you have, you should still continue to follow current prevention measures. This includes wearing a mask, physically distancing, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and washing your hands.
COVID Vaccine Basics
This video is a great way to learn about the COVID vaccine. It covers everything from its fast development to how it works. Watch it here. Check below for answers to more of your questions.
What is in the COVID vaccine and how does it work?
Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. There are currently three vaccines that are available in the U.S.: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Both Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. mRNA vaccines provide instructions to make a protein that the body recognizes as COVID-19 without actually introducing COVID-19 into the body. The body then produces antibodies to that specific protein.
Johnson & Johnson is a vector vaccine. It uses a harmless adenovirus to deliver a gene that carries the blueprint for the spiky protein found on the surface of the coronavirus. The virus enters cells, which then follow the genetic instructions to construct a replica of the coronavirus spike. Your immune system will use these replicas to recognize and respond to the actual coronavirus.
You cannot get COVID-19 from the any of these vaccines. The Moderna vaccine requires 2 doses given 4 weeks apart; the Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses given 3 weeks apart. Johnson & Johnson is a single dose vaccine.
Please remember that although the disease COVID-19 can be deadly, the vaccines, which contain no live viruses, are NOT. Vaccines are designed to protect us from life-threatening illness.
What should I expect after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Please check out the CDC’s website here for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and what you should expect after receiving it.
Is the vaccine effective? How long will it protect those who get the vaccine?
In clinical trials involving 75,000+ people, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were nearly 95% effective in people who received two doses. This means the chances of contracting COVID-19 after receiving two doses of the vaccine is decreased by 95%.
Clinical trial data showed that Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was found to be 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe disease; in the U.S. alone, it was found to be 72% effective. The vaccine also was 85% effective overall against severe disease, preventing deaths completely and hospitalizations after a period of at least 28 days.
For more facts about the vaccines that you can download and share with family and friends, click here. For a version in Spanish, click here.
Is the vaccine safe?
No severe effects have been reported in any individuals who received the vaccine.
What are possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
The most common side effects include pain and redness at the injection site, fatigue (tiredness), headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and low grade fever. These side effects are the same symptoms experienced by many after getting a flu or tetanus vaccine. Experiencing some minor symptoms after receiving a vaccine can be reassuring that your body is responding appropriately to it and preparing to protect you from the illness itself.
Can the vaccine give someone COVID-19?
No. The vaccine contains no live or weakened virus coronavirus, and therefore someone cannot contract COVID-19 from the vaccine.
If you have already had COVID-19, should you get the vaccine?
Yes. It is not yet known how effective natural immunity is from having COVID-19 disease, or how long immunity lasts. Receiving the vaccine cannot hurt. The vaccine can only help boost immunity against COVID-19.
If I am experiencing prolonged symptoms from COVID-19, should I get the vaccine?
Receiving the vaccine will likely not harm you and could potentially be helpful. However, depending on your health situation, you may need to more carefully weigh the risks of vaccine side effects. Please consult with your health care provider about your individual safety and health concerns.
Who can get the vaccine?
The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as quantities are available. You can check out Connecticut’s guidelines for who is eligible for the vaccine here.
Should women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant in the coming months, or breastfeeding receive the vaccine?
Pregnant and breastfeeding women were not specifically included in the clinical trials for the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection, so your health care provider may recommend that you receive the vaccine.
Can people who are immunocompromised receive the vaccine?
While these vaccines have not been specifically studied in individuals who are immunocompromised/immunosuppressed and it is not known exactly how efficacious they will be (if immunocompromised individuals mount the same response as others receiving the vaccine), immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for complications from COVID19 illness. There are no recommendations that patients who are immunocompromised should not get vaccinated.
- The clinical trials contained individuals with immunocompromising conditions.
- The vaccine does not contain live or weakened virus, and therefore, it cannot cause a COVID19 infection in someone with a weakened immune system.
- It is important that immunocompromised individuals practice other strategies to reduce transmission (hand washing, mask use, social distancing) even after vaccination.
Who should not get the vaccine?
Only individuals who have had an anaphylactic reaction after receiving the first dose of a COVID vaccine. Some individuals with anaphylaxis to certain injectable medications and ingredients like polyethylene glycol may want to consult their health care provider about where and when to receive their vaccination.
Can we stop wearing masks once we have been vaccinated?
No. Not everyone will be vaccinated and we must wear masks to protect vulnerable individuals at this time. While the vaccine is thought to protect individuals from getting COVID-19, we do not know if vaccine prevents disease transmission from person to person. While the person receiving the vaccine may be protected from getting COVID-19 after receiving two doses of the vaccine, we do not know if someone who received the vaccine can harbor (possess) the virus and still pass it along (infecting) to others. Mask wearing, hand-washing and physical spacing guidelines have not changed.
Can people with allergies get the vaccine?
Yes, the vaccine has been shown to be safe for people with environmental, food, insect and even latex allergies, as well as those allergic to any medications given by mouth. As an additional precaution everyone who receives the vaccine, regardless of allergy history, is monitored for symptoms for 15 minutes post-vaccination.
Special considerations are made for anyone with a history of vaccine allergy OR allergy to any medications that were injected into the body. Please consult your health care provider if you have any concerns.
What if I am sick with COVID-19 or another acute respiratory illness during the time period offered?
You should wait until you are completely better before receiving the vaccine.
How long after having COVID-19 illness should an individual wait before receiving the vaccine?
The CDC suggests that all symptoms should be resolved and the individual should be feeling their typical “well”; this is what FHCHC suggests. Others may be suggesting “at least 30 days,” which is not consistent with the Centers for Disease Control’s stated advice.
What if I am in quarantine when I am offered the vaccination?
To protect others, you must wait until after your quarantine period ends to get vaccinated.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the CDC’s website or review these COVID vaccine FAQs from FHCHC.