San Diego County is now administering coronavirus vaccines to all residents age 12 and older. Here's a breakdown of how and where you can get your COVID-19 shot.
Vaccinations in San Diego: What to Know Before You Go
The county says those who are eligible for the vaccine should first contact their doctor or medical provider. If you can’t get a COVID-19 vaccine from your doctor, you can use one of the county vaccine sites.
San Diego County has released this interactive map that can help you see where you may be able to receive a coronavirus vaccine. You can enter your address, city or zip code to find vaccination sites within a 100-mile radius.
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As of April 27, appointments or walk-ins will be welcome at all county-run vaccination sites.
Free rides are now offered by San Diego County public transportation systems to COVID-19 vaccine sites, the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District announced.
Those with an email confirmation proving they are scheduled to get the vaccine will be eligible for a free ride to a vaccination site the day of their appointment. The confirmation can be shown via smartphone or be printed.
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Eligibility and Types of Coronavirus Vaccines Available in San Diego County:
Coronavirus vaccines rolled out in San Diego County on Dec. 14, 2020.
At first, the county worked its way through groups through a phased system -- Phase 1A, followed by Phase 1B, then Phase 1C.
Eligibility for Phase 2 opened up on April 1 with anyone age 50+ eligible for the vaccine and then on April 15, eligibility expanded to those 16+
Children Vaccinations:
On May 13, San Diego County health officials began offering Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to kids ages 12 to 15. On Nov. 2, children between the ages of 5 and 11 started receiving their first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine after the CDC's approval.
Pfizer is the only coronavirus vaccine approved for those under 18 right now.
If you’re 12 through 17 years old, you must select from a local vaccination site offering the Pfizer vaccine only and have your parent or legal guardian schedule your appointment to provide consent to receive the vaccine.
All eligible minors may visit a vaccination site without an appointment and without bringing any documentation (photo ID and proof of age) IF a parent, legal guardian, or relative caregiver is with them at the site.
If a minor will not have an adult present with them at the vaccination site, an appointment needs to be made AND their parent or legal guardian will need to complete the Consent Form for Minors to provide their consent in advance. Parental consent is required for all eligible minors to be vaccinated.
To view the consent forms, click here.
Vaccines Offered:
Vaccination sites have been offering the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and the J&J vaccine.
To get the Pfizer vaccine, you must be 5 and older. Two doses are needed, with the second dose recommended 21 days after the first dose.
To get the Moderna vaccine, you must be 18 and older. Two doses are needed of this one, too, with the second dose recommended 28 days after the first dose.
The one-dose J&J vaccine was paused in San Diego County while the CDC and FDA reviewed data involving six reported cases of people in the U.S. who developed a rare and severe blood clot after getting the vaccine. On April 27, the J&J vaccine resumed in San Diego County after the CDC said the benefits of using the one-dose coronavirus vaccine outweighed the risk.
Booster Shots:
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive a booster shot.
This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
A Pfizer or Moderna booster shot is recommended if you got your second dose at least six months ago. A Johnson & Johnson booster shot is recommended if you got your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
COVID-19 Vaccination Card:
An official CDC COVID-19 vaccination card will be given to you when you receive your first dose of the vaccine. Keep this vaccination card in a safe place and bring it with you to your second dose appointment.
The vaccination card will list the following:
- The type of vaccine you received.
- The date you received it.
- Where you received it.
Elders or those who don't have access to a computer can call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment.
NOTE: It is recommended that you use a browser other than Internet Explorer to complete your appointment registration.
All vaccine sites are weather permitted, call 211 to double-check which ones are open or visit the county's website.
San Diego County Community Vaccination Locations
All county community locations will be providing about 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines per day. County locations are managed using MyTurn. NOTE: If a location does not appear in Myturn, there are no appointments available but they may accept walk-ins on a first-come, first served basis.
Appointment Instructions:
- At the time of your appointment, you must present a photo ID/documentation that establishes you meet the eligibility requirements outlined above to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
- After your vaccine has been administered, you will be asked to remain at the location for a 15-minute observation period.
- Before leaving, you will be provided a vaccination card
- You will be required to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines for the duration of your visit.
Second Vaccination Appointment Instructions:
- Immediately after you make your first appointment, you will be prompted in MyTurn to also schedule your second appointment. Dates available for your second dose will be populated so you may complete the scheduling process.
- For any issues, contact the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
Locations:
To schedule an appointment at the locations below, click here or call 2-1-1.
- Mountain View Educational Cultural Complex, 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego
- No appointments are necessary.
- It is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
- East Public Health Center, 367 N. Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon, 92020
- This site is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Linda Rhoades Recreation Center, 600 North Santa Fe Ave, 92084
- This walk-thru site is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
- This site is also a COVID-19 testing site
- San Diego, Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave, San Diego, 92114
- This site is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- South Region Live Well Center, 690 Oxford Street, Chula Vista, 91911
- This site is open Sunday through Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Coronado, Sharp Coronado Community Pharmacy, 230 Prospect Place, Suite 110, 92118
- This site is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- San Diego, Mountainview at Educational Cultural Complex (ECC), 4343 Ocean View Blvd, 92113
- This walk-thru site is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- La Mesa, Sharp Grossmont Hospital Care Clinic, 8851 Center Drive, Suite 600 91942
- This walk-thru site is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- North Central at County Operations Center, 5560 Overland Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
- This walk-thru site is open from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The last day of vaccinations at this location is on 11/05
Pharmacies
- CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens pharmacies are offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters by appointment only at select locations in San Diego County, with plans to expand as supply grows.
- Schedule at CVS: click here and choose your state of residence. Click "schedule an appointment now" and after answering a series of questions about yourself you can schedule appointments at nearby pharmacies on one or two days depending on if you need both doses or just the second.
- Schedule at Rite Aid: Click here to start. After filling out some basic personal information, you will be shown a map of Rite Aid locations within 50 miles of your ZIP code. Choose one, then select an available date and time, and you can confirm your appointment after filling out some basic medical information.
- Schedule at Walgreens: To schedule an appointment with Walgreens you must have a registered online account. If you don't have one, click here.
San Diego County Partner Vaccination Locations:
- Rady Children's Hospital, 8001 Frost Street, San Diego, 92123
- Click here for site-specific instructions
- This site is open from Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. through 3 p.m.
Second Vaccination Appointment Instructions: You will schedule your second dose at the clinic during your first dose. If you are not scheduled for a second dose at the clinic, you will likely receive a scheduling ticket on MyChart. For further instructions, click here or contact covid19vaccine@rchsd.org.
- Chula Vista, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Clinic, 752 Medical Center Court, Suite 105, 91911. Sunday through Thursday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. New hours starting Nov. 5: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Click here for site-specific instructions
Second Vaccination Appointment Instructions Immediately after you make your first appointment, you will be prompted in My Turn to also schedule your second appointment. Dates available for your second dose will be populated so you may complete the scheduling process. For any issues, contact the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
NOW CLOSED:
The county's first-ever vaccination super station opened in mid-January at 1235 K St. in downtown San Diego, near Petco Park. The site was open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until its final day, which was March 20, 2021.
The North Central Super Station at UCSD RIMAC (9730 Hopkins Dr.) was open 7 days a week for many months but gave its final doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on June 2, 2021. This was one of five super stations in San Diego County and was managed by UC San Diego Health. Over the course of its run, it administered nearly 200,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to San Diego residents.
San Marcos Super Station at California State University-San Marcos is now closed. It was open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
La Mesa Super Station at Sharp-Grossmont Center Mall is now closed. The site was open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Del Mar Super Station at the Del Mar Fairground is now closed.
Chula Vista's South Bay Super Station managed by Sharp Healthcare is now closed.
For further details, visit the county's website.
Here's how many vaccinations have been administered in California
California COVID-19 Vaccinations
The map tracks the number of doses administered by a recipient's county of residence according to the The California Department of Public Health.
Source: The statewide totals for doses administered reflect Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Otherwise we used data from the California Department of Public Health
Amy O’Kruk/NBC
