COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR VACCINE APPOINTMENTS

Transportation to vaccine appointments at Montgomery County Office of Public Health clinics is available at no cost to the rider, calling ahead is encouraged.

• Transnet: (215) 542-7433
• SEPTA/CCT: (215) 580-7145
• GoGo Grandparent: 1 (855) 464-6872 or visit https://gogograndparent.com/montco

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF MY APPOINTMENT IS CANCELED/RESCHEDULED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER?

If an appointment is canceled, you will receive an email stating the appointment was canceled and you’ll be able to click the link in the email to re-schedule.

DOES A PARENT/GUARDIAN NEED TO BE PRESENT WITH THEIR 12 TO 17-YEAR-OLD AT THE VACCINE CLINIC?

All minors (under age 18) that are to be vaccinated MUST be physically accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

An acceptable substitute is an adult relative age 21 or older, who has been authorized by the child's parent to seek medical treatment for the minor.  This may include grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling provided they are at least 21 years old. The authorized relative must present a signed copy of the Treatment of a Minor form. If the authorized relative does not have a signed form, the parent may be contacted by phone to give a verbal consent for delegation of care to that individual, and the form should be completed with the parent signature line indicating “verbal consent” and the name of the person witnessing consent.

I RECEIVED MY FIRST DOSE, WHEN WILL I RECEIVE AN EMAIL TO SCHEDULE MY SECOND DOSE?

You will receive an email regarding your second dose 24-48 hours after you received your first dose.

I NEVER RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT MY SECOND DOSE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you received a first dose appointment with the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, you are automatically eligible to receive a second dose. If you didn't get an email for your second dose, please check your junk/spam folder. If the second dose appointment email is not in your junk/spam folder, you can make a second dose appoint by going to https://vaccine.montcopa.org/ and click “start registration” to register for an appointment. When prompted, click “yes” to indicate you have received your first dose and it will take you through the regular questions to schedule a second dose appointment. You can also contact our COVID-19 hotline: (833) 875-3967 for assistance 

HOW CAN I RESCHEDULE THE SECOND DOSE APPOINTMENT?

There is an option to reschedule in your appointment confirmation email. 

IF I RECEIVED MY FIRST DOSE SOMEWHERE ELSE, CAN I SCHEDULE MY SECOND DOSE AT A MONTGOMERY COUNTY CLINIC?

Yes, please go to https://vaccine.montcopa.org/ and click “start registration” to register for an appointment. When prompted, click “yes” to indicate you have received your first dose and it will take you through the regular questions to schedule a second dose appointment.

I'M ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER, WHY CAN'T I BOOK MY APPOINTMENT?

At this time, we are only booking appointments for boosters roughly one month out from today's date. If the date you're eligible to receive your booster on falls outside that range, you will not yet be able to make an appointment and should check back later. 

I'M TRYING TO SCHEDULE MY APPOINTMENT FOR A THIRD DOSE/BOOSTER, BUT YOUR WEBSITE ISN'T WORKING!

Please make sure you are using either the Google Chrome or Firefox browser when registering. If you continue to have problems, email COVID19@montcopa.org.  

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY THIRD DOSE/BOOSTER OR CAN I JUST WALK UP?

Appointments are required for all third dose or booster shots. Walk-ups are not accepted for these vaccinations at this time. 

WHAT EMAIL ADDRESS DOES THE CONFIRMATION COME FROM?

All emails will come from noreply@montcopa.org.

HOW DO I CANCEL MY APPOINTMENT?

Appointments can be canceled using the link located in your confirmation email.

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT BUT NEED TO CANCEL. WILL I RECEIVE ANOTHER LINK TO RESCHEDULE?

You can reschedule your appointment using the link in your appointment confirmation email.

HOW DO I KNOW WHERE TO GO ONCE I RECEIVE CONFIRMATION OF MY APPOINTMENT?

You will receive a confirmation email with a link that provides information on the building, entrance, and parking.

When you schedule your appointment, you can choose from available clinic locations. Please take note of the addresses and the map on this page for each location.

IF MY GROUP/PRACTICE REGISTERS STAFF, DOES THE GROUP/PRACTICE MAKE ALL STAFF APPOINTMENTS OR DOES EACH STAFF MAKE THEIR OWN APPOINTMENT?

Each staff person must register in the system and make their own appointment.

IF I’M FEELING SICK, SHOULD I CANCEL MY VACCINE APPOINTMENT?

Yes. Anyone who has symptoms of an acute illness of any type should NOT come to a vaccination site.

CAN I RECEIVE A SMART HEALTH CARD (QR CODES) FROM OPH VACCINATION SITES?

Pennsylvania does not issue SMART Health Card with a QR code for COVID-19 vaccinations. However, there are national pharmacies which are SMART Health Card issuers. For a full list of issuers, please visit https://smarthealth.cards/en/issuers.html

Why do I need to wear a mask if I’m fully vaccinated?

Currently authorized vaccines in the United States are highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against symptomatic and severe COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people are less likely to become infected and, if infected, to develop symptoms of COVID-19. They are at substantially reduced risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people.

Infections (breakthrough infections) can happen in a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated. Moreover, when these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected can be infectious and can spread the virus to others. For this reason, when the county is in a condition of substantial or high transmission, the Montgomery County Office of Public Health aligns with the CDC recommendations for all people, vaccinated or unvaccinated, to use masks when in close contact indoors.

Is the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine safe?

In most situations, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination due to the risk of serious adverse events. Vaccine recipients must be informed of the risks and benefits of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination. The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations, including for persons who:

• Had a severe reaction after an mRNA vaccine dose or who have a severe allergy to an ingredient of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines).
• Would otherwise remain unvaccinated for COVID-19 due to limited access to Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines).
• Wants to get the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine despite the safety concerns.

Learn more about the considerations for J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: COVID-19 Vaccine Page (Information for the Public and Healthcare Professionals)

The Vaccine Education Center: Questions and Answers about COVID-19 Vaccines

Vaccinate Your Family and Other Medical/Public Health Experts: COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccines  

What vaccines are approved for use for 5 to 11-year-olds?

Only the Pediatric Pfizer vaccine is currently approved for use in children aged 5 to 11. When registering for your appointment, please select a clinic that is administering the Pediatric Pfizer vaccine. All minors (under age 18) that are to be vaccinated MUST be physically accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

An acceptable substitute is an adult relative age 21 or older, who has been authorized by the child's parent to seek medical treatment for the minor.  This may include grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling provided they are at least 21 years old. The authorized relative must present a signed copy of the Treatment of a Minor form. If the authorized relative does not have a signed form, the parent may be contacted by phone to give a verbal consent for delegation of care to that individual, and the form should be completed with the parent signature line indicating “verbal consent” and the name of the person witnessing consent.

How can I get a copy of my COVID-19 vaccination record?

If you were vaccinated in PA and have an immunization record in PA SIIS (Pennsylvania’s Immunization Registry) you must call an OPH Public Health Center or email covid19@montcopa.org and include full name, date of birth, contact number, and email address. We will not accept walk-ins. If your request can be processed, you will be informed when and where you can pick up your vaccination record or card. We will not mail COVID-19 vaccination cards to you.

Locations and Hours:

Norristown Public Health Center: 610-278-5145 

• Tuesday - Friday from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm (this service is not available on Mondays)

Pottstown Public Health Center: 610-970-5040 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, &  Friday from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm (this service is not available on Wednesdays)

Willow Grove Public Health Center: 215-784-5415 

• Tuesday - Friday from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm (this service is not available on Mondays)

Does asking for vaccination status violate HIPAA law?

 It is not a violation of HIPAA for entities to ask for proof of vaccination, but everyone has the right to refuse to disclose this information. Check with your legal counsel in order to decide if requiring vaccination proof or asking about vaccination history would be prudent for your organization.

Can I get vaccinated if I currently have COVID-19?

No. Anyone who is in the active stage of an acute COVID infection or who has been in close contact with a person who has had a COVID positive test result should remain in self-isolation or quarantine and NOT come to a vaccination site.

If I had COVID-19, should I get the vaccine?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you have recovered from a COVID infection, you can choose to wait up to 90 days (about 3 months) for a vaccination, as your antibody level will likely protect you from infection for at least that long. Or, you can choose to be vaccinated within that 90-day period. You may have a response to the vaccine-like those who have not had a COVID infection.

Are COVID-19 vaccines recommended during pregnancy?

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, although limited, has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. For more information, please review CDC guidance.

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Common side effects on the arm where you got the shot include:

• Pain
• Swelling

Throughout the rest of your body:

• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Headache

When should I get the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine?

Moderna first doses will be administered exactly 28 days after the first dose. Pfizer second doses will be administered exactly 21 days after the first dose. Please plan for this when you schedule your first appointment. You will be provided with the date to return for your second dose by the nurse administering your first dose. If you are unable to return on that date you will be asked to defer your first dose. You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how you will register and make your second dose appointment a week prior to the 28th or 21st day after you received your first dose. It is possible that you will have a choice of clinics for your second dose.  

I’m fully vaccinated (2 doses of A two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or 1 Dose of a one-dose covid-19 vaccine). do I need to quarantine after traveling within the United States?

No. Please click here for current travel guidelines for Pennsylvania. 

I'm fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine and traveling internationally. Do I need to quarantine after arriving back in the United States?

No. Please click here for current international travel guidelines. 

Where is COVID-19 vaccine available in Montgomery County?

COVID-19 Vaccine Providers (vaccines.gov)

How do I enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider?

To receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, providers must be credentialed/licensed in Pennsylvania; sign and agree to the conditions in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement, and fully complete the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Profile form for each location where COVID-19 vaccine will be administered.

Please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website for more information or if you have questions, you may email or call 717-787-5681.

Where do I send the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement form once it is completed?

Click here to email provider agreement forms.