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1. How do I make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine?

Visit accgov.com/vaccine for more information on how to make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine information

2. What COVID-19 vaccines are available now?

On December 11, 2020, Pfizer was given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna vaccine was given EUA December 18, 2020 and Johnson & Johnson vaccine was given EUA February 27, 2021.

There are large clinical trials currently in progress or being planned for other COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

Georgia Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

3. Can I make a vaccine appointment at the Health Department?

No. You cannot make an appointment by calling or visiting a health department in the Northeast Health District. 

You can pre-register for a vaccine online at https://bit.ly/NEHDCOVIDVaccine

• After you have submitted the registration form, the Northeast Health District will contact you to make an appointment if you are a member of one of the eligible priority groups.
• Information on which groups are eligible can also be found at the link above.
• There may be several days between when you submit the form and when you are contacted

4. Is the vaccine safe?

Safety is a key concern among health officials and experts. Before the FDA approves a vaccine, the manufacturer must do rigorous research and testing to ensure the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. The FDA independently reviews and verifies the information from these tests. It then decides whether the vaccine can be licensed and given to the public. 

For each vaccine authorized by the FDA, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) carefully reviews all available data about the vaccine from clinical trials and other studies and makes recommendations for vaccine use in the general public. Recommendations include groups that should and should not receive the vaccine, as well as the timing, volume, number, and spacing of doses in a vaccine series. 

The FDA and CDC continue to closely monitor vaccine safety after the public begins using the vaccine. Both agencies have longstanding and new safety systems in place for heightened monitoring of all COVID-19 vaccines.

Georgia Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

5. Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

No. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 and cannot cause COVID-19.

6. How many doses of vaccine will I need?

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. The Pfizer vaccine doses are administered three weeks apart, and the Moderna vaccine doses are given 28 days apart. The first dose offers partial protection and the second acts as a booster. Both doses are needed to get the most protection the vaccines have to offer against COVID-19.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose vaccine.

All three COVID vaccines currently available are administered intramuscularly (into the muscle, just like a flu shot).

Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

7. What if I only get one dose of the vaccine?

It is recommend that individuals receive both doses of the vaccine to ensure full protection.

Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

8. If I had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to be vaccinated?

Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.

Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs

9. I am a healthcare provider in private practice, where can I go to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

Private physicians and healthcare workers (dentists, pharmacists, etc.) should pursue vaccination one of three ways.

• Those affiliated with a hospital should contact the hospital to learn about their distribution plan for staff and affiliated physicians.
• If a physician and their office staff is not affiliated with a hospital, they may contact a hospital or a public health clinic for vaccine options. 

Healthcare workers with potential for direct and indirect exposure should seek out vaccination options as soon as possible.

Department of Public Health Vaccine FAQs