Several weeks after the launch of COVID-19 vaccines in California, many questions remain for people trying to program their vaccines.
If you live or work in Riverside County, here’s what you need to know about getting a vaccine from the county public health agency. (The county also works with community partners – such as pharmacies and urgent care centers – who operate their own systems.)
The people currently eligible to be vaccinated are health workers, residents of long-term care institutions and people 65 and older who live or work in Riverside County. If you are not yet qualified, sign up to receive status notifications at myturn.ca.gov.
This is the most up-to-date information available for Riverside County. Los Angeles County information is here; Orange County information here.
Make a first appointment
First, bookmark the Riverside County vaccination site as a favorite: rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine.
The county operates several large-scale venues, including the Indio and Perris fairgrounds, Corona High School and Lake Elsinore stadium. In a purple table on the website, you can see which locations may have appointments available. Click on the link in the right column to start the process. If you say “Complete”, you will have to try again another day.
As of February 8, the county is reserving almost all new appointments for people 85 and older. If you fall into this group, click on the blue button that says, “85 years and above, click here to check availability”.
You can also call 2-1-1 from within the county for help, in English or Spanish, by scheduling an appointment.
Jose Arballo Jr., a senior public information specialist at the county’s public health agency, said the county normally publishes public communications announcing the availability of consultations.
New appointments usually open around noon. On a recent day, more than 10,000 appointments came online at noon and were fully booked in 34 minutes, Arballo said.
Therefore, be sure to update your browser at rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine as close to midday as possible to have the best chance of making an appointment.
Get your first photo
When it’s time for your first appointment, go to the specified distribution site. Some are walk-in; some are drive-through, in which you stay in the car throughout the process.
Arballo said people should not arrive more than 30 minutes early to avoid overcrowding. Some locations are outdoors, so check the weather and dress accordingly. Officers moved operations indoors due to bad weather when possible. Wear a mask (or two).
When you arrive and line up, the trustees will ensure that you have an appointment and check the time. You will then be directed to a check-in area. You must provide identification to confirm your age and residence and answer some questions. (If you work in the county or in a currently qualified industry, you will also need to provide proof of this.)
After checking in, you will wait for a technician to be available to give you your chance. Research has shown that smiling at the injection can reduce pain and stress. Try it.
After the injection, you will receive a vaccination card indicating that you have received your first dose. It will also indicate the type of vaccine you received and the date you should receive your second dose (21 days after the first for the Pfizer vaccine; 28 days after for the Moderna).
You will also be directed to a waiting area for a 15 minute observation period. This occurs only in the case of very rare allergic reactions. Once your 15 minutes are up, you will confirm to an observer that you are well and ready.
The whole process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, Arballo said, depending on how many people are in line.
Make an appointment for your second dose
Arballo said that you will be notified – via the scheduling system or by email – when it is time for your second appointment. Instructions for making the consultation will be provided.
You need to get the same vaccine – Pfizer to Pfizer, Modern to Modern – but you don’t have to get it at the same distribution site, Arballo said.
Other situations
If you make your first appointment through an organization other than the county’s public health agency, you must confirm information about your second doses with them.
Arballo emphasized that the vaccine supply that the municipality receives can vary – sometimes it is more or less than expected – and that dictates how many consultations can be opened. “It is a process,” he said.