Where To Get A Coronavirus Vaccine In Orange County

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — California is still grappling with a coronavirus vaccine supply shortage, making it hard for residents to get their hands on an appointment. In Orange County, there are several places to get a vaccine if you're eligible, but time slots are going fast.

California expects to receive around 1.8 million vaccines this week, and although supply has not increased by much in the last several weeks, distribution has been picking up speed.

The state has now administered more than 14 million doses, with more than 1,198,154 doses administered in Orange County as of Monday. Last week alone, the county administered around 220,300 vaccine doses, about three times the 76,000 administered the week before, the OC Business Journal reported.

There are more than 408,443 Orange County residents who have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna products and 21,936 residents who have received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to county data.

During a San Francisco news conference last week, the Golden State governor said that vaccine supply would "exponentially increase" in the next month.

"We're anticipating within 5 1/2 weeks, where we can eliminate all of the tiering, so to speak, and make available vaccines to everybody across the spectrum because supply will exponentially increase," he told reporters on Friday.

Until then, eligible Orange County residents can make an appointment through the state, through the county's vaccine appointment system, Othena, or at local retailers such as CVS, Pavillions Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Walgreens.

Here's what you need to know to make an appointment.

Who can get the coronavirus vaccine right now in Orange County?

An estimated 19 million Californians are eligible in phase 1a and phase 1b of the state's vaccine plan. Anyone can quickly check their eligibility on the state's MyTurn website.

The following groups are now eligible in Orange County:

Phase 1A:

• Those "persons at risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through their work in any role in direct health care or long-term care settings… and includes persons at direct risk of exposure in their non-clinical roles, such as, but not limited to, environmental services, patient transport, or interpretation"
• In addition for Orange County, law enforcement who work in high positive COVID rate areas such as Anaheim and Santa Ana as well as correctional facilities and homeless shelters experiencing outbreaks can get vaccinated at this time.
• Includes medical device manufacturer workers
• People age 65 and older.

Phase 1B, Tier 1

• Childcare (informal and formal) and Education
• Food and Agriculture
• Emergency Services (includes utility workers, disaster service worker, social worker)
• Those who reside/work in Congregate settings (including high risk areas- correctional/homeless shelter)
• Public Transportation
• or those age 16+ (for Pfizer) or age 18+ (Moderna/Janssen) with Chronic conditions

For a more detailed list of who is eligible, visit the Orange County Health Care Agency's website.

How to make an appointment in Orange County:

Orange County residents can register for a vaccine appointment through Othena. Othena is currently scheduling appointments at all Orange County POD super sites.

The following sites will vaccinate Orange County residents this week:

• Anaheim Convention Center
• Disneyland Drive-Thru POD
• Soka University Super POD
• Santa Ana College Community POD*

*This site will only be open for specific populations.

Residents can also find an appointment at the following pharmacies in Orange County:

• CVS
• Rite Aid
• Walgreens

Some Pavilions Pharmacy locations across Orange County are also offering vaccine appointments, but like many other clinics, appointments are running out fast. The pharmacy is only booking one week ahead and residents are advised to check for open appointments at the end of the week.

To make an appointment enter in your Orange County zip code into this form here to find a nearby location. If the closest Pavilions Pharmacy to you does not appear on the list, it may be because appointments have already been filled for the week.

Here's a schedule through Tuesday for Orange County supersites:

What to bring to your appointment:

All residents making a vaccine appointment must be able to provide identification and documentation that they are eligible to receive a vaccine, according to Orange County officials.

• Professional license
• Employee badge with name
• Signed letter from employer on facility letterhead
• Payment stub with printed name

Once residents make an appointment through Othena, patients will be notified which documents they should bring to an appointment.

What happens after I get vaccinated?

Even after receiving both doses of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, public health officials still urge the public to wear a mask and practice social distancing. That's because, although the vaccine may prevent serious disease, those who are vaccinated may still carry virus particles that could infect others who are not vaccinated.

"If the vaccine only prevents disease, and the person can still get infected, that means they're capable of spreading COVID-19 to other people, even though they won't get sick," Dr. Timothy Brewer told Patch in a previous interview. Brewer is a professor of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"In fact, an important thing for everyone to remember is that we don't actually know if vaccines prevent infection," he said. "We know they're very good at preventing disease. And there's a difference between the two."

Can I gather with others who have been vaccinated?

In terms of returning to our social circles, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the United States offered a glimmer of hope.

At a press conference, Fauci confirmed that small gatherings between those who are "doubly" vaccinated — those who receive both shots of Moderna and Pfizer — would be safe.

"Small gatherings in the home, I think you can clearly feel the relative risk is so low you wouldn't have to wear the mask," Fauci said. "You could have a good social gathering within the home."