How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines in North Carolina – AARP States

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according toCDC recommendations.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine isno longer availablein the U.S.

The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as it's been at least four months since the last shot.

People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at theCDCs website.

Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctors offices. Use the federal governments website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by ZIP code. Get the same information by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physicians office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.

More information about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 website. Or you can call the state's COVID-19 hotline at 800-232-4636.

The federal government no longer covers the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay.

Children 18 and younger may qualify to receive no-cost or low-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.

Its safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose no matter which brand youve received, including Johnson & Johnson.

The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.

Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a drivers license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state of residency, along with your health insurance card.

The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, andthey are not required to receive a vaccine. If youve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.

Its common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills but these are temporary and normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC says.

A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.

According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggestspacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you dont need another one this year.

Contact your health care provider for more information.

The U.S. government is no longer distributing COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means that nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are now responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have existing partnerships with local pharmacies or health departments to provide a variety of vaccinations, such as flu vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines and others.

Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are required by federal law to educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID19 vaccines and offer a COVID19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.

All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.

Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

North Carolina residents who believe theyve encountered a COVID-19 scam can report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 800-447-8477 or by submitting a complaint online.

Editor's note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.

Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARPs Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications

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How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines in North Carolina - AARP States