COVID-19 Information for Members

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the vaccine and has found that it is safe.

Medi-Cal members can get the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

• The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the safest ways our communities and lives can return to a more normal state, more quickly.
• The Alliance is committed to supporting you and your family’s health.

You can help stop the pandemic by getting a COVID-19 vaccine

• The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age
• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to help prevent getting sick from COVID-19

You can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting the vaccine

• Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 12 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19
• The COVID-19 vaccines can now be given at the same time as other vaccines
• After the COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. These are normal signs that your body is building protection.
• If you are fully vaccinated, you will still need to follow guidance required by federal, state, and local authorities, or at your workplace and local businesses.
• Homebound members have many available resources to them if they are interested in getting the vaccine at their home.

Alliance members who get a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be mailed a $50 Target gift card. This member reward is available for all members who get their first or second dose between September 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022.

Note: You will be most protected from COVID-19 if you get all the recommended vaccines. This means that you should get either:

• One dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
• Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or the Moderna vaccine.

Go to myturn.ca.gov to schedule your vaccine appointment.

Booster COVID-19 shots are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These shots are only for certain groups who received their dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago.

The CDC recommends that the following groups should get a booster shot:

• People who are at least 65 years old.
• Residents in long-term care settings.
• Adults 50 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions.

The CDC has stated that the following groups can get a booster shot:

• Adults 18 to 49 years old with underlying medical conditions.
• Adults 18 to 64 years old who are at a greater risk of COVID-19 exposure or transmission.

You can schedule a booster dose on the MyTurn website or call 833-422-4255. You can also call your doctor to schedule a booster shot.

1. Sign up online on California’s COVID-19 registration website.
2. Call California’s hotline for COVID-19 information. A live person will help you register for vaccine appointments. To use the service:
   • Call 833-422-4255.
   • You will hear 7 menu options. On your phone’s keypad, press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish or press 3 for other languages.
   • The service is available Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. If you have questions about the vaccines, visit your county public health department’s website:
   • County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
   • County of Monterey Health Department
   • Merced County Department of Public Health

Pregnant people are more at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. If you are pregnant and get COVID-19, you are also more at risk of pregnancy complications like high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, death and stillbirth.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you can still get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccine while you are pregnant can help protect you from severe illness from COVID-19.

If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talk to your doctor. You can also read the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding to learn more. (Note: This page is only available in English and Spanish.)

Merced

Merced County Department of Public Health

Hotline number: 209-381-1200 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)​

To learn more about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Monterey

County of Monterey Health Department

Hotline number: 831-769-8700 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Santa Cruz

County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency

Hotline number: 831-454-4242 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Here are signs of potential scams:

• If you get a call, text, email — or someone at your door — stating they can get you early access to the vaccine.
• If someone asks you to pay money for the vaccine or to be added to a list to get the vaccine early.

Never share your personal health information or your Social Security Number, credit card number or bank account information with unknown individuals.

Remember, Medi-Cal members will receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost and you will not be asked to pay to receive the vaccine early or to be added to a list.

If you believe you have been a victim of a COVID-19 scam, please report it online to the Federal Trade Commission.

You can also call the hotline for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 800- HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

You might be hearing rumors about the COVID-19 vaccine, and you may have questions. It is important to get vaccine information from reliable sources. These include:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• your county’s public health department ( Merced | Monterey | Santa Cruz).
• your primary care provider (PCP).

• Getting a vaccine will not give you COVID-19.
  The vaccines do not contain the live virus. This means they cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
• The COVID-19 vaccines do not have severe side effects in most people.
  Many people experience mild to moderate signs that their body is building protection after getting a vaccine. These can include muscle aches, tiredness, headache, fever or soreness where you got the injection. Side effects often last for a day or two. But since any new medication can cause an allergic reaction in a small number of people, you will be asked to stay for observation for a short period after you’ve received the shot.
• When you get the vaccine, you will not be asked for information about your immigration status.
  The vaccine is available to the public regardless of immigration status.
• You should get vaccinated even if you’ve had COVID-19.
  Research shows that the consequences of COVID-19 can be severe. Even if you’ve recovered from having COVID-19, there is not enough information to know if you are protected from getting it again. Get the vaccine even if you’ve had COVID-19 in the past.
• COVID-19 vaccines do not make people infertile.
  None of the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility. There is also no evidence that getting the vaccine can cause women to miscarry. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• The COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA.
  The COVID-19 vaccines are designed to give your body instructions to fight the coronavirus. There is no way the vaccine can change the DNA of your cells.
• You should still practice safety measures after you’ve been vaccinated.
  The vaccine can prevent you from getting sick. However, there is not enough information to know whether you can still carry and give the virus to others. You should continue to cover your mouth and nose with a mask in public. Stay at least six feet away from people who don’t live with you, avoid crowds and wash your hands often.