COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

We know you may have many questions about vaccines and how they affect you and your loved ones. Below is a collection of common questions and links to resources.

We encourage a parent/guardian to attend the vaccination appointment with their child. Each Shasta County vaccine provider has their own consent process.
Families should check with their vaccine provider on acceptable forms of consent.
CDPH has issued COVID-19 minor consent guidance.

Yes. Vaccine providers must obtain consent from a parent, legal guardian, or other adult having legal custody before vaccinating a minor. The parent/guardian may accompany the minor in person.
Emancipated minors do not need the consent of a parent or guardian to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and may consent for him/herself.
Providers may accept written consent from a parent or legal guardian of an unaccompanied minor.
CDPH has issued COVID-19 minor consent guidance.

COVID-19 vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Vaccine safety is monitored using several surveillance systems, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Thanks to these platforms, we know that the vaccine is an incredibly safe way to protect adults and children against COVID-19. The public should report unusual side effects to one of the nation's safety monitoring systems for the general public, military members, veterans, and tribal nations. Call VAERS toll-free number at 1-800-822-7967.
All COVID-19 vaccines were built from decades of research and followed the same steps as other vaccines to ensure they were safe and effective before being made available to the public. No vaccine testing phases were skipped, and all phases were thoroughly evaluated to meet the high standards of safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality of the FDA.

Yes, even if you are fully vaccinated, you can still spread COVID-19 to others depending on their vaccination status and risk of disease.
However, fully vaccinated people with a breakthrough infection are less likely to have serious illness with COVID-19 than those who are unvaccinated.
It all depends on what type of safety precautions are being used, groups of people that are at higher risk of getting infected again, and the level of risk.

No, even after getting vaccinated, you should consider taking precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community against COVID-19.

Everyone is at risk for getting COVID-19 especially if they are not vaccinated or up to date with their vaccination.
However, there are high risk groups for severe COVID-19 infection, please see below.
Older adults (aged 50 years and older)
People with certain medical conditions such as chronic disease or cancer
People with weakened immune systems
People who are pregnant or were recently pregnant
People with disabilities.

The Bridge Access Program (BAP) provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs.
Our Public Health immunization clinic is a BAP participant.
Providers participating in the Bridge Access Program are contractually obligated to add vaccine availability to vaccines.gov.
Visit MyTurn.ca.gov or https://www.vaccines.gov/ to make an appointment or find a walk-in clinic in your area.
Text your zip code to 438829 or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at: 1-800-232-0233.
For people with disabilities, please call the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) if you need COVID-19 vaccination support at: 1-888-677-1199