Basics on getting the COVID-19 vaccine
Who can get a shot: As of now, those 65 or older, health care workers or those who work or live in a long-term care facility.
Teachers, police officers and grocery store workers will be among the next in line. After that, state officials say eligibility will be determined by age, with the vaccine gradually reaching younger people. The county expects vaccines will be available to everyone by summer.
Where to get a shot: There are now four mass vaccination sites — one near Petco Park; one in Chula Vista at 565 Broadway; one in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center shopping mall; and one at California State University San Marcos. There are also smaller sites throughout the county, some run by Sharp HealthCare and Rady Children’s Hospital.
A drive-thru site also has opened at the old Palomar hospital on East Valley Parkway in downtown Escondido. It’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Reservations for the vaccine there must be made at palomarhealth.org/vaccine.
UC San Diego has opened a COVID-19 vaccination site inside its RIMAC arena to administer shots to university employees and UC San Diego Health patients. The center is at 9730 Hopkins Drive. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Eligible patients must make an appointment using the electronic portal MyUCSDChart.
You need to make an appointment: If you have a health care provider, the county suggests contacting them about getting vaccinated. If you can’t get doses through your provider or are uninsured, go to the county’s COVID-19 vaccine page at vaccinationsuperstationsd.com for locations and sign-up information. Several county sites use myturn.ca.gov to make an appointment. The Union-Tribune visuals team and biotech reporter Jonathan Wosen have created an instructional video on signing up. Go to sandiegouniontribune.com and scroll down a short distance for the video.
Seniors who don’t have a computer can call the county’s 211 line for help scheduling appointments.
The vaccines: The two available vaccines are from Pfizer and Moderna. A second booster shot is needed three to four weeks after the first shot. You’ll receive a vaccination record card on when to return for the next appointment.