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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
You cannot receive your COVID-19 vaccine at the Chester County Health Department if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms OR you have been exposed to COVID-19 within 10 days of your appointment. Please reschedule your appointment using the “Change/Cancel Appointment” button in your confirmation and reminder emails. Walk-in appointments are unavailable at this time.
You must wear a mask to your appointment. Vaccine clinics are considered healthcare settings, therefore masks are required to enter clinic buildings.
- What's New?
- Booster and 3rd Dose Guidance
- Schedule a Vaccine Appointment
- Safety Information
- Replace My Vaccine Card
- Bivalent doses for children 6 months to 4 years old:
- There will be NO “mixing and matching” allowed for this age group, meaning children must stick with the brand from their primary series.
- Children who have completed the Moderna series will be eligible for the Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after the second dose of their primary series.
- Children who have started their Pfizer series but have not received their third dose of Pfizer yet, will receive the bivalent version as dose 3, which we will schedule after they complete dose 2. If you already have an appointment for dose 3, we will update the appointment to reflect the change to a bivalent dose.
- Children who have received all 3 doses of their primary series of Pfizer already, are NOT eligible for an additional/booster dose at this time.
- Find out when you can get your booster here.
- Pfizer bivalent boosters for children ages 5 to 11 years old are now available at the Chester County Health Department. Children in this age group can receive the latest booster 2 months after dose 2 or their previous booster. We will ONLY carry the Pfizer bivalent booster in the age 5 to 11 age group. The Moderna bivalent booster will now only be available for those age 12+ years.
- Walk-in appointments are unavailable at this time.
Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines
- Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.
- Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
Who is Eligible for Boosters Right Now?
NEW! Find out when you can get your booster here.
Pfizer
- Children ages 6 months to 4 years are NOT eligible for a booster at this time.
- Children ages 5 to 11 years who received a second dose or an original booster 2 months ago are now eligible for the new bivalent booster. CCHD will only have the Pfizer for 5 to 11 year olds. Moderna is approved as a bivalent booster for those ages 6 to 11 years old, and mixing and matching is allowed.
- People age 12+ years who completed a primary series or had a booster at least 2 months ago are eligible for the new Pfizer OR Moderna bivalent booster.
Moderna
- Children ages 6 months to 5 years who had a Moderna primary series are eligible for a booster 2 months after dose 2.
- Children ages 6 to11 years who received a second dose or an original booster 2 months ago are now eligible for the new bivalent booster. CCHD will only have the Pfizer for 5 to 11 year olds but Moderna is approved as a bivalent booster for those ages 6 to 11, and mixing and matching is allowed.
- People age 12+ years who completed a primary series or had a booster at least 2 months ago are eligible for a new Pfizer OR Moderna bivalent booster.
Johnson & Johnson or Novavax
- People 18+ years who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or completed the Novavax primary series at least 2 months ago are eligible for a new Pfizer OR Moderna bivalent booster.
- A Novavax Booster is available only for those who have had a primary series (1 J&J or 2 Novavax or mRNA) and are unable or unwilling to receive a bivalent Pfizer or Moderna booster. This booster is available 6 months after the primary series.
Vaccination Guidance for People who are Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised
- Please consult the CDC webpage for guidance.
Schedule a Vaccine Appointment
Clinic Location
Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road, West Chester
Times
- Tuesdays: 9:00 am - 3:15 pm
- Wednesdays: 12:00 pm - 5:15 pm
- Fridays: 9:00 am - 1:15 pm
- Walk-in appointments are unavailable at this time.
Masks are required to enter clinic buildings.
For additional vaccine clinics, please visit vaccines.gov. You can also contact your primary care provider or local pharmacy for vaccine availability.
Vaccine Side Effects
COVID-19 vaccines will have side effects and that’s a good thing!
The technical term for a vaccine that produces side effects is reactogenic. In other words, you react to it when it enters your system. Your reaction may be a sore arm or redness where the injection was given. You may even feel flu-like symptoms, have a headache or body aches, or feel very tired. These reactions are completely normal and do not last very long.
While you may not feel well, the reaction means the vaccine is doing its job. These reactions are a sign of the body’s immune response kicking into gear, creating antibodies that will not only help your body build protection against COVID-19, but train it to fight the virus much faster.
Reactions to the vaccine are just as unique as you are. Not everyone will have the same reaction to the vaccine. Additionally, your reaction may be different following the second dose compared to the first dose.
Learn more about side effects and find helpful tips to reduce discomfort after your vaccination at: What to Expect after Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.
What should I do about side effects?
If you are experiencing any severe symptoms, immediately notify the medical personnel in the observation area. If you have already left the clinic, consult your doctor or call 911.
If you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away, call your healthcare provider.
Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
- Call the toll-free number: 1-800-822-7967
- Report online on the VAERS website
You will also receive information on how to enroll in v-safe. V-safe is a new, smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after a COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe asks questions that help CDC monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. V-safe also provides second-dose reminders if needed and live telephone follow-up by CDC if participants report a significant health impact following a COVID-19 vaccination.
Severe Allergic Reactions
There is a remote chance that a COVID-19 vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. Severe allergic reactions occur in approximately 2.5 of every 1,000,000 individuals (CDC, 2021).
A severe allergic reaction usually occurs within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, reactions may occur up to 4 hours after injection. For this reason, the Chester County Health Department requires that you remain at the vaccine clinic for at least 15 minutes for monitoring. Individuals with known allergic reactions (previous anaphylaxis to vaccines, food allergies, insects, etc.) must stay in the observation room for at least 30 minutes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, swelling of your face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over your body, dizziness and weakness.
If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms, immediately notify the medical personnel in the observation area. If you have already left the clinic, consult your doctor or call 911.
Vaccine EUAs and Fact Sheets
If you’ve lost your card and received your vaccinations through the Chester County Health Department, please call 610-344-6225.
If you received your vaccinations through another provider, please contact them or the Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Email: [email protected]
- Call 877-774-4748