Santa Clara Country has been increasing vaccine eligibility to anyone who is 16 years or older who lives, works, attends school in Santa Clara Country; Or patients who receive their primary care from the County of Santa Clara Health System.
Types of Vaccines
Pfizer: 2 shots, 21 days apart
Pfizer is the only vaccine authorized for people aged 16-17. A Parent or guardian must be present at the time of the vaccination to sign consent forms.
Moderna: 2 shots, 28 days apart (1 month)
Johnson&Johnson: 1 shot
As of April 23, 2021 the CDC and FDA have recommended the use of J&J Vaccine resume in the United States. However, women younger than 50 years old especially should be aware of the rare risk of blood clothes with low platelets after vaccination, and other Covid-19 vaccines are available without that risk.
Where To Sign Up for the Vaccine
Visit you local county vaccine website for your residence to find appointments for a vaccine.
For Santa Clara County Residents please visit: https://vax.sccgov.org/
Other retail pharmacies have online sign up directly on their websites:
Before the Vaccine
Stay hydrated: Drinking water is important in everyday health and overall wellness.
Avoid alcohol: There is no official answer if the alcohol consumption interferes with the vaccine, but most doctors recommend refraining from alcohol before and after getting vaccinated. Based on side effects, it is most recommended to stay well hydrated before receiving your Covid-19 vaccine dose.
It is not recommended to take over-the-counter medicine or antihistamines before your vaccination just to prevent possible side effects. It is not known if these will affect how the vaccine works. Medications taken regularly for other health reasons should still be taken, but is it best to talk to your doctor or health care provider with additional questions.
During the Vaccine
What should I wear?
It is recommended to wear clothes that are loose and comfortable. The vaccine is delivered to the muscle in the upper shoulder and arm. A short sleeved shirt or a sleeveless shirt would make it most convenient to receive the vaccine.
Which arm should I get the Vaccine?
Either arm affects the vaccine's efficacy, but many individuals will pick their non-dominant arm. A common side effect is muscle soreness, so if you sleep on the your side it is best to get the vaccine in the other side.
After the Vaccine
Right after the vaccine, you will be asked to wait for 15 minutes in an observation area to monitor any reactions.
Common Side Effects:
Most people report mild discomfort in their arm at the injection site. It is also within normal reactions to feel feverish or fatigued after their vaccines, more with the second dose than the first dose. Many people feel symptoms anywhere from immediately after, a few hours after, or the following day after receiving their shot. These symptoms dissipate in 72 hours.
It is fine to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) after to help alleviate symptoms.
Once You are Vaccinated
You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after the Johnson&Johnson vaccine. Here is a list of activities you can do once you are considered fully vaccinated:
source: cdc.gov
You should still take steps to protect others and prevent the spread of Covid-19 such as wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, avoiding crows and poorly ventilated areas.
UEWM Clinic
UEWM Clinic offers a herbal tea or herbal medicine powder that helps alleviate side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine. Patients have seen very few symptoms after drinking the medicine before the vaccine. This tea is most effective when consumed a few days prior and post vaccine for maximum benefits.
The clinic also offers medicinal patches that help relieve muscle soreness that may be caused by the vaccine. Learn more below:
For more information about our medicine or patches to help alleviate vaccine symptoms please visit our page to learn more.
For more information about UEWM Clinic visit our website at www.uewmclinic.com
For more information about the Covid-19 vaccines, please visit the CDC at: