Los Angeles County residents that have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are now receiving information on how to get their second dose of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Residents who received a vaccination before January 29 at any of our County-operated sites, including El Sereno, Balboa Sports Complex, Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, Hazard/Belvedere, Pomona Fairplex, The Forum, Cal State University Northridge, the Los Angeles County Office of Education in Downey, and Magic Mountain, are receiving emails with a unique link confirming the place and date of their second dose appointment and will allow them to confirm the time of the appointment.

Moving forward, individuals booking appointments will be able to book both first and second dose at the same time. More second dose information can be found here.

Most individuals who were vaccinated will receive their second doses at the same location they received their first dose, with a few small differences, as a few sites have closed. People vaccinated at Ritchie Valens will now get their second dose at Balboa, and people vaccinated at Hazard/Belvedere will get their second dose at El Sereno.

County-operated vaccination centers are currently only vaccinating LA County healthcare workers, residents aged 65+, or healthcare workers from other counties who work in LA County. Unfortunately, if you do not fall in these categories, you are not eligible to get vaccinated quite yet.

Those getting vaccinated are required to show proof of LA residence/workplace. For more information about what documents are required or when it will be your turn to get vaccinated, please visit the LA County Department of Public Health’s website at www.VaccinateLACounty.com or www.VacunateLosAngeles.com  (Spanish).

Residents who received a vaccine at a location run by LA City Fire Dept., such as Dodger Stadium, will receive an email and text from Carbon Health (carbonhealth.com/covid-19-vaccines) within the next two weeks with information about their second appointment. Those whose second appointments are due earlier will be prioritized for notification.

Common side-effects

You may get vaccine side-effects in the first two days after getting the vaccine. Common side effects include a sore or red arm, fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, and feeling tired.These are normal and show that your body is learning to build up immunity. Having these types of side effects soon after vaccination does NOT mean that you have COVID-19.

Vaccine side effects are more common after the second dose and in younger people. They usually do not last long, and you should feel better within a day or two.

It is important to get the second dose even if you get side effects after the first dose, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to.

Contact your doctor if you have questions, your symptoms last more than two days, start more than two days after you got the vaccine, or they get worse or worry you.

Tips to help with symptoms

Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth to reduce pain and discomfort in your arm. It may also help to use or exercise your arm. To reduce discomfort from fever, drink plenty of fluids and dress lightly.

Over-the counter medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) can help with pain, fever, headache, and/or discomfort. Do not take these medicines before getting the vaccine.

Allergic reactions

As with any medicine, it is rare but possible to have a serious reaction, such as not being able to breathe. It is very unlikely that this will happen. If it does, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Symptoms of COVID-19

You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. But there is still a risk of getting infected with the COVID-19 virus before and after starting your vaccine series. Talk to a doctor and get tested for COVID-19 if you get any of these symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, loss of taste or smell. You should stay home and stay away from others until you get the result of your test or until your doctor tells you that you don’t have COVID-19.

What to do next

Once a person is vaccinated with two doses, it may seem like a good idea to interact with people outside your household or to stop wearing a mask. This is not the case. It is still possible for those who are vaccinated to spread COVID-19 and, according to the CDC, it may take a couple of weeks for those who are vaccinated to be fully protected.

It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, stay at least 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often.?