COVID-19 Vaccine Answers

Last updated 08/17/2021

Protection against COVID-19 is finally here! Choosing to get vaccinated will help protect you and your family and friends from the virus. This guide prepared by Community Service Society collects trustworthy information from government health authorities so New Yorkers can make an informed decision about getting vaccinated.

Who can get the vaccine?

The vaccine is being distributed in phases with the focus of making it available to the most vulnerable populations and those that are at high risk of contracting. Currently, the vaccine is available in New York for people who are:

Age 12 and older AND
Reside, work, OR study in New York State

Why should I get vaccinated?

It is not legally required that you get vaccinated. Most employers are not requiring employees to get vaccinated. However, as of August 2021 more employers are requiring staff to be vaccinated, or get frequent COVID tests. For example, effective August 16, 2021, NYC government employees and contracted not-for-profit staff working in congregate settings will be required to provide either one-time proof of a COVID vaccination or a weekly negative test. This requirement will be expanded to all NYC government employees and contracted not-for-profit staff starting on September 13, 2021.

In addition, the Governor announced that all healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCF), including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings, will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Monday, September 27.

As of August 17, all indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment establishments in NYC are requiring proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter. To enter one of these establishments, individuals will need to show proof of vaccination. Valid forms of proof of vaccination include the CDC card, Excelsior Pass, NYC COVID Safe App (iOS/Android), OR any other vaccine record. Enforcement of these requirements goes into effect on September 13, 2021. This applies to New Yorkers ages 12 and older including customers, workers, and patrons.

The only way of ending the pandemic is if enough people get vaccinated and follow guidance on masks and social distancing. The vaccine is crucial in protecting you from contracting COVID-19. It will “teach” your body how to fight against the virus for the future. Becoming vaccinated will not only protect you but also those around you.

Are there incentives to get vaccinated (besides not getting COVID)?

Yes! New York City is encouraging all eligible New Yorkers to get vaccinated by offering prizes and other incentives. Here are some examples:

$100 pre-paid debit card
- Beginning Friday, July 30, New York City will pay $100 to anyone who goes to a city-run vaccination site for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The money will be issued in pre-paid debit cards that can either be emailed to recipients in digital form or mailed in physical form. To learn more go to nyc.gov/vaccineincentives.
New York City Football Club tickets
Brooklyn Cyclones tickets
NYC Ferry 10-Ride Pass
Statue of Liberty and accompanying ferry ticket
NYC Public Markets gift cards ($25)
Public Theater annual membership
Two-week membership to Citibike
Snug Harbor family membership
Family fun wristband and free ride on the Cyclone at Luna Park in Coney Island

Visit NYC’s Vaccine Incentives website to learn more.

Referral Bonuses

NYC is offering an incentive to community and faith-based organizations to help get people vaccinated by awarding $100 for each referral for each first dose at a City-run site. When an individual makes an appointment ahead of time or is a walkup, they can identify which community organization referred them to get vaccinated. Once they receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the referral organization will be credited $100 after the program ends. Organizations can earn up to $20,000 each. Interested organizations can sign up at nyc.gov/vaccinereferralbonus.

Do I have to pay for the vaccine?

No. The vaccine is free for everyone. If you have insurance, it may be billed but you will not be responsible for payment. If you don’t have insurance, the vaccine will still be free for you.

Are the vaccines safe?

According to the CDC, yes. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were created with methods that have been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic. The vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps but conducted some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster. They have gone through extensive clinical trials to ensure its efficacy and safety. The trials were reviewed by the FDA and independent organizations. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

Does it matter which type of vaccine I get?

No. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the FDA on February 27. It is just as effective as the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in preventing hospitalization and death. You may have heard that the clinical trials for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine found that it was only 67% effective in preventing COVID-19, as opposed to 95% for Pfizer and Moderna. However, this is not a fair comparison because the Johnson & Johnson effectiveness statistic was based on clinical trials done in multiple countries, some of which were impacted by different variants of the virus and other confounding factors. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 85% effective in preventing severe illness from COVID-19, which is essentially the same as the other two, given the margins of error.

One major advantage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it requires only a single shot, not two like the other two vaccines. In addition, it can be more easily distributed in rural areas because it doesn’t require as much refrigeration.

Effective 4/23/21, New York has resumed administration of the Johnson & Johson vaccine. New York had previously paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution due to a very small number of serious side effects (15 people out of the 6.8 million who have received the J&J vaccine had blood clots). The CDC and FDA decided that the J&J vaccine can be resumed after a thorough safety review found that the bloot clots are very rare.

If you have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the past three weeks and are having any of the following symptoms, contact your health care provider:

Severe headache
Abdominal pain
Leg pain
Shortness of breath

Will I get sick from the vaccine?

It is common to experience side effects after the first or second dose of the vaccine. Normal side effects include soreness on your arm where you got the shot, headache, or tiredness. Consult with your health care provider to find out more.

What if I have existing health conditions?

In general, you can still get the vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have an underlying medical condition, if you are immunocompromised or if you have allergies. However, you should check with your healthcare provider first to make sure. If you are currently sick with COVID-19 or have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should wait until you recover or until you have quarantined for 10 days before getting vaccinated.

Does the vaccine protect against the Delta variant and other COVID-19 variants?

Yes. The CDC reports that “the current authorized vaccines work on the circulating variants.” While the Delta variant changes the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccine still provides more protection than our natural defenses alone.

However, because this variant is more transmissable and more likely to infect vaccinated individuals, the CDC has advised that even fully-vaccinated people should “wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” Most people in New York state are in an area of substantial or high transmission as of August 1, 2021. (High Transmission: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk; Substantial Transmission: Bronx, Queens, Westchester, all of Hudson Valley except Rockland [which is Moderate], Capital District, Rochester area, and Buffalo area. See CDC COVID Data Tracker for more detail.)

How do I get the vaccine?

In the beginning, everyone had to schedule an appointment in advance to get vaccinated. But recently, more walk-in sites have opened, so you probably don’t need an appointment to get the vaccine. Vaccines are available at hundreds of pharmacies, hospitals, local health departments, and State-run sites throughout the state. Eligible New Yorkers can find locations near them and make appointments online at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or by calling 877‐VAX4NYC for assistance in multiple languages. For State-operated vaccine sites, visit am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov or call 833-NYS-4-VAX.

Local pharmacies are also giving COVID-19 vaccines. You can schedule appointments at pharmacies by visiting their websites (e.g., https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine, https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19, https://www.riteaid.com/Covid-19). Not all pharmacies are making vaccines available to all eligible groups, so check eligibility before scheduling an appointment.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines consists of two injections, given about 3-6 weeks apart. When you get your first shot, a second dose will automatically be ordered for you. You will usually get your second shot at the same location where you got your first shot (but see below re. pharmacies offering second shots). Your appointment for the second shot will be scheduled when you get your first shot. After your first shot, you will be given a COVID-19 vaccine card, which you need to bring to your second appointment. This card will be your proof that you have been vaccinated.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine consists of one injection, so you only need one appointment.

Getting your second vaccine dose at a local pharmacy

Participating pharmacies are now offering a second COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who received the first vaccine elsewhere. This may be more convenient than going back to the state- or city-run site where you got your first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Participating pharmacies are:

Walk-in Vaccines in NYC

New Yorkers age 12 and over are now able to get vaccinated without appointments at over 30 sites throughout NYC. These include three sites that are open 24/7.

Effective June 15, New Yorkers can now get vaccinated at the Empire State Building between 8am and 12pm, and head up to the 86th floor for a free visit to the outdoor deck! More information at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.

Mobile Vaccine Bus in NYC

You can also schedule an appointment at a mobile NYC Vax Bus through the Vax4NYC website. The buses will continue to provide walkup vaccinations for all New Yorkers 18 and up in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here. Walk-ups are welcome and you can also book in advance through the Vax4NYC website.

What documentation do I need to get vaccinated?

You must provide proof that you are in one of the groups who are eligible to receive the vaccine at this time. Because all New Yorkers age 12 and up are now eligible for the vaccine, this generally means that you only need to provide proof of identity. Sufficient identification includes a driver’s license, passport, or any legal proof of your date of birth and residency.

Note that non-NYS residents may be vaccinated if they work or attend school in NYS.

For individuals under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent for vaccination. A parent or legal guardian must provide verbal consent either in person, or by phone, at the time of vaccine appointment.

Documentation of age is required, and can be a Driver’s license or non-driver ID; Birth certificate issued by a state or local government; Consulate ID; Current U.S passport or valid foreign passport; Permanent resident card; Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship; Life insurance policy with birthdate; or Marriage certificate with birthdate.

If you are not a New York resident, you must bring proof that you work or study in New York State. Proof of NYS employment can be an employee ID card or badge, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub.

You will be asked for insurance information BUT the vaccine is free and there will never be a charge to you. This information is for administrative use only.

Once you have scheduled an appointment, you will have to complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form in order to show that you are eligible. You can complete this form online at https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine.

You will not be asked for your Social Security Number. If someone asks you for your Social Security Number to get the vaccine, it is a scam.

When you get your vaccine appointment, you should bring your health insurance card (if you have insurance), your proof of eligibility (see above), and if it’s your second appointment, the COVID-19 vaccine card you were given after the first shot. If you have Medicare, you will need to bring your Medicare card, even if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Can I get the vaccine if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes! If you are in one of the eligible groups, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. It doesn’t matter what your immigration status is. While you may need to provide proof of employment, age, or residency, you will not be asked for proof of citizenship or immigration status. The fact that you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be shared with ICE, and will not impact your immigration status. You will not be considered a “public charge” for receiving the vaccine.

I can’t travel to a vaccine administration site; can I be vaccinated in my home?

Yes! New York State has established local points of contact in every county for requesting in-person vaccination.

In-home COVID-19 vaccinations (Johnson and Johnson) are also available for eligible NYC residents who are age 12 or above.

If you are eligible for an in-home vaccination, you can request it using this form – https://forms.cityofnewyork.us/f/home – or call 877-829-4692. Click here for more information about NYC’s homebound vaccination program.

In addition, the NYC Department for the Aging, Medicaid health plans and the Housing Recovery Operations office will reach out to thousands of seniors to ascertain their eligibility and enroll them in the program. The Fire Department will then dispatch field teams with nurses to vaccinate individuals age 65 and older in buildings identified by the Department for the Aging and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

NYC also offers free transportation to and from vaccine sites for adults who are over age 65 or have an ambulatory, visual, intellectual, or developmental disability. To reserve transportation, including ambulette and cab options, call 877-VAX-4-NYC. An operator will walk through eligibility and provide other options over the phone based on the caller’s need.

Some other options for transportation to vaccine appointments for NYC residents age 65 and up are:

Hunter Ambulettes
- If you need an ambulette, you can schedule free transport with Hunter ambulettes.
- Agency: Hunter Call Center
- Phone Number: (516) 812-9827
- Business Hours: Daily: 7 AM – 7 PM
Curb
- If you are 65 or older and meet all of the criteria, but do not qualify for the programs above, you can schedule a free ride with Curb.
- When scheduling your appointment, you must indicate that you are getting a vaccine. Curb will confirm that your destination is a valid vaccination site, and your ride will be scheduled for free.
- Agency: Curb
- Phone Number: (646) 349-0289
- Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

I already had COVID-19, should I still get vaccinated?

Yes! It is still possible to get COVID-19 more than once. The vaccine can even boost the protection you gained after natural infection. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days, consult with your health care provider to make sure you get vaccinated at the right time.

I’m fully vaccinated. Do I need a booster shot?

The CDC now recommends that some who are immunocompromised receive three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, rather than the standard two-dose regimen. This applies to people 12 and older who have a condition or are taking medications or treatments that moderately or severely weaken their immune system, and received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

New Yorkers receiving a third dose will be asked to attest to their qualifying medical condition. No other documentation will be required. Additional vaccine doses are not recommended for any other group at this time.

The third does is now available at all City-run vaccination sites, except H+H facilities, who will have 3rd doses available in the coming days. Third doses are now also available at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. The third dose is limited to those individuals who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and must be of the same brand as the first and second doses. Those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should not get a booster shot at this time.

I got vaccinated. Can I stop wearing a mask and social distancing?

Sometimes. According to the CDC, if you’ve been fully vaccinated (i.e., 2 weeks after last dose), you now can:

You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission (which, as of 8/1/21, includes most people in New York state and everyone in NYC).
You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
Travel outside the United States without getting tested first or self-quarantining after travel (however pay close attention to the situation at your international destination; your destination may have different rules, and you may need to show a negative test result before returning to the United States).
If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate for 10 days if your test result is positive.

However, even if you’ve been fully-vaccinated, you should still maintain social distance, wear a mask, and avoid crowded/poorly ventilated places whenever you are:

In public;
Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household; or
Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk

You should also still avoid medium- or large-sized gatherings, wear a mask on public transportation and airplanes, and watch out for symptoms of COVID-19.

How can I protect myself from COVID-19 scams?

As the country begins to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

If anyone else asks you to share your Medicare Number or Social Security Number, or pay for access to the vaccine, you can bet it’s a scam.
You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
You can’t pay to get early access to a vaccine.
Don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or emails you promising access to the vaccine for a fee.

How can CSS help?

Remember, by getting vaccinated we can protect each other from the COVID‐19 virus and finally bring about an end to this pandemic.

Community Health Advocates can assist you if you encounter any challenges when accessing the vaccine. You can call the Community Health Advocates Helpline at 888-614-5400. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am until 4pm.

This fact sheet was prepared by CSS based on information obtained from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The information in this guide was accurate as of the date at the top of this page, but is subject to change. For up-to-date information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov or http://www.nyc.gov/vaccinecommandcenter.

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