How to get COVID-19 vaccination

Over the past two years COVID-19 has become a part of everyday life. Since the hit of the pandemic in 2020, vaccines have become available for anyone over the age of five. 

The typical scheduling process is done over a phone call or through a visit to a website with a pre-screening. 

“Scheduling my shot was easy,” junior Aydan Roland said. “All I had to do was go to the Rite-Aid website, answer a few simple questions such as my birthday, if I have had any previous COVID-19 vaccines, my allergies and things like that.” 

According to the CDC, there are three different companies producing COVID-19 vaccines at this time: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. 

Each of the vaccines have a recommended age to get the initial dose, when to get the booster dose and how long to wait after the dose to be granted full immunity. 

Pfizer: 

Recommended age: five years old or older 

How many doses: two given, 21 days apart

When to schedule a booster: five months after the second shot 

When granted full-immunity: 14 days after the second dose 

Moderna: 

Recommended age: 18 years or older 

How many doses: two given, 28 days apart. 

When to schedule a booster: five months after the second shot 

When granted full-immunity: 14 days after the second dose

Johnson & Johnson:

Recommended age: 18 years or older 

How many doses: one dose given

When to schedule a booster: two months after initial shot

When granted full-immunity: 14 days after the dose

“As soon as the vaccine was available to 16 year olds, I jumped to schedule mine. I figured if there was anything I could do to help get this pandemic under control, it would be to wear a mask and get my vaccine. It felt like any other vaccine. Yes, I did get sick after my second dose, but it was such a small price to pay to protect those around me,” junior Marin Cooney said. 

COVID-19 vaccines are free for anyone to schedule, even without insurance. 

Altoona has multiple places that one can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. 

“I am a retired nurse at the hospital. Since COVID-19 shots are in such high demand right now, I go back into the hospital and help vaccinate the people who have scheduled their vaccine appointment,” retired nurse Jeannine Chestney said. “The vaccine is quick, simple and almost painless so from a nurse’s perspective, if you are able to take the vaccine without it inflicting on your religion or your health, I would take the vaccine.” 

Some places vaccines are able to be scheduled are as follows:

• Rite-Aid
• Walgreens Pharmacy 
• CVS Pharmacy 
• Giant-Eagle Pharmacy 
• Thompson Pharmacy  
• Sam’s Club 
• Walmart Pharmacy
• UPMC
• Community Health Center
• Martins Pharmacy

The CVS website gives advice about getting the vaccine after you have been infected with COVID-19. 

According to the CVS website, “If you’ve recently tested positive for COVID-19, the CDC recommends you get a booster once you are symptom free and have completed the isolation period.” 

As of Jan. 28, teachers were offered the opportunity to leave the school throughout the work day to get their booster shot at Thompson Pharmacy. 

“I feel like superman. For me, I feel so much more comfortable with the booster and initial vaccine. I understand the vaccine isn’t perfect, but  I literally drank from someone’s water bottle unknowing they had COVID-19, and I didn’t get it,” Spanish teacher Dane Leone said.