COVID-19 Vaccines at UCSF Health

Reviewed February 25, 2021

The COVID-19 vaccines now available were produced in record time and received expedited regulatory review, but they’re based on science that’s been studied for decades. These vaccines were produced quickly in part thanks to strong funding for clinical trials by multiple governments, as well as private organizations. Enrollment was faster than usual because the public was motivated to volunteer. Trials reached their endpoints quickly because of the high levels of COVID-19 disease throughout the world, which made it easy to see a difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. None of the necessary scientific steps were skipped. In addition, both vaccines were found to be safe and effective in tens of thousands of adults who participated in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials – widely considered the gold standard for testing drug safety and effectiveness.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

Yes, most people should be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible and have access. In addition to reducing your chances of contracting COVID-19, the vaccines have been very effective at preventing severe illness and death in those who do develop it. Vaccination also helps prevent the chronic health effects that have been reported in some patients long after they recover from the acute stage of the illness.

Exceptions: Patients with a recent or upcoming organ or stem cell transplantation, and those receiving strong immunosuppressive medications, may want to postpone getting the COVID-19 vaccine for a short time. Similarly, patients who have recently recovered from COVID-19 disease may want to postpone being vaccinated, especially if they received certain medical therapies during their illness. Patients in these situations should speak to their medical team about the best timing for vaccination.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

If you have a history of allergies, check the risk assessment categories below to see whether you might need to visit your doctor for further evaluation.

If any of the following have happened to you after receiving a vaccine or medication, you could be at risk for an allergic reaction: hives or rash, swelling of a body part, wheezing or shortness of breath, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, low blood pressure, treatment with epinephrine, intubation or hospitalization.

Low risk

• I have an allergy to food, animals, stinging insect venom (bee, wasp, hornet), pollens, latex and/or oral medications.
• I had a reaction to a vaccine or injectable medication that was NOT an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.

You should be observed for 30 minutes after being vaccinated.

Medium risk

• I had a reaction to a vaccine or injectable medication that could be an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
• I had a reaction to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that was NOT anaphylaxis.

Discuss with your health care provider whether it’s safe for you to be vaccinated. Your provider can place an e-consult to Allergy at UCSF to determine the need for evaluation or testing.

High risk

• I had a reaction to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that could be an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.

Ask your health care provider to refer you to Allergy at UCSF for possible allergy testing.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

If you’ve had a previous allergic reaction to a vaccine, your doctor may need to evaluate you.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

The ideal minimum interval between a COVID and non-COVID vaccine is 14 days. So, if you plan to receive any non-COVID vaccine in the 14 days before or after COVID-19 vaccination, you may want to postpone the non-COVID vaccine if it’s not time-sensitive.

However, it is okay to be vaccinated for COVID-19 less than 14 days before or after a non-COVID vaccine if the benefits outweigh the risks, and a delay would cause barriers to vaccination.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

Yes. People who have had COVID-19 should still be vaccinated after they’ve recovered from their illness and their isolation period (a minimum of 14 days at UCSF) has ended. Current evidence suggests that reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. If you’ve had a documented case of COVID-19 in the last 90 days, you can consider delaying vaccination until near the end of this period.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

UCSF is following guidance from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to identify our patients who are eligible for vaccination during each phase of the vaccine rollout.

As of January 15, 2021, we have begun offering vaccines to our patients age 75 and over. Please note that vaccine supplies are limited, so it will likely take several weeks to vaccinate this group. We’ll then move on to the next category – ages 65 to 74 – followed by people ages 50 to 64 and those ages 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk.

Reviewed March 24, 2021

UCSF is following state guidelines for its vaccine rollout to ensure that we distribute vaccines to people based on their risk. You can sign up at MyTurn before you're eligible to be vaccinated, and they will notify you when you become eligible. Once you're eligible, you can make your appointment directly through MyTurn. You can also visit your county's vaccine website to make an appointment at county-run vaccination clinics and major pharmacy chains, such as Walgreens, CVS and Safeway.

Please do not ask your doctor about vaccine scheduling. Because we are following state guidelines, your doctor will not be able to schedule your vaccine or influence when you receive it.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

Public health departments are distributing COVID-19 vaccines for free because the government has purchased millions of doses. In the future, this may change. The government may purchase more doses, your insurance may cover the cost, or you may be able to pay out of pocket.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

No. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do not provide full protection against COVID-19 until at least a week after the second dose. However, because the coronavirus will remain a threat to public health for many months, and because no vaccine is 100 percent effective, you should continue to follow all public health guidance related to COVID-19, including wearing a mask, physically distancing, frequent hand-washing, and avoiding all nonessential travel and gatherings.

Reviewed February 25, 2021

We have provided a patient-education FAQ to all of our employees and patients before they sign up for their vaccine. It contains many answers to questions about the vaccines that are currently available and what to expect during and after your vaccination.

Reviewed March 24, 2021

No, you should return to the center that dispensed the first dose to make sure you receive the correct second dose. In unusual situations in which this is not possible (e.g., for new employees who got their first dose out-of-state), UCSF will try to accommodate the request.

Reviewed March 24, 2021

The vaccine supply remains limited throughout Northern California, so at times, not enough doses will be available to provide first doses through our clinics. When supplies are limited, we’re prioritizing second doses, starting with patients who are approaching or have reached the 42-day recommended time frame after their first dose. Most vaccine sites, including UCSF, require you to get your second dose from the same provider that gave you your first one.