As of 3/31, EVERYONE 16 years or older who lives or works in Contra Costa County can be vaccinated at one of the county-run vaccination sites - without health issues, without being a front-line worker.  You can request a county appointment online here or by calling 1-833-829-2626.  Vaccination sites run by the State (which you find on My Turn), health systems (like Kaiser or Sutter), and pharmacies (like CVS and Walgreens) are also vaccinating, but they might have more restrictions than the sites run by the county do. Contra Costa County continues to maintain an excellent webpage that lists who is qualified for vaccination at each kind of vaccination center, and gives links and phone numbers for all the places you can schedule a vaccination appointment locally. Because supplies of the vaccine are still limited, you may need to try more than one option, more than one time, to find an appointment.

Who can get the vaccine now ?  

• -The currently available vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) are approved for people over the age of 16.  Vaccines for children are still undergoing approval and are expected in the fall.  The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots 2-3 weeks apart, but the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one shot.
• -Vaccines are being given to people listed here under the heading "Vaccine Eligibility".
• -More people are being added to the eligibility list all the time, so check the links above periodically to see when it's your turn.

Where do you go to get the vaccine?  

• -You usually need to make an appointment in advance. Not every vaccine provider has appointments at a given time, due to limited vaccine supply. The best strategy is to try several options below until you find one with available appointments. 
• -By far, most of the vaccine is being distributed by the Contra Costa County Health Agency, so you should start by requesting a county appointment online or calling 1-833-829-2626. The phone line is open 8 am - 8 pm.  Even if you normally use another health provider (Kaiser, Lifelong, Sutter), you are more likely to get vaccinated by the County because they receive a lot of the vaccine supply. By all reports, the County-run vaccine clinics are operating smoothly and the wait time once you arrive is not very long.
• -You should also fill out the form at the  “My Turn” website run by the state, to gain access to additional vaccine events outside of the county (such as the one at Oakland Coliseum). Or, you can call the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255 (M-F 8AM-8PM, Sa-Su 8AM-5PM) for appointment assistance.
• -At the bottom of this page is a list of all the organizations providing the COVID vaccine in Contra Costa County with links to sign up for appointments The list includes Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Lifelong Medical, La Clinica, and Kaiser. You must schedule an appointment to be vaccinated at all of those locations, so follow the instructions provided on the page to do so.

What do you need to bring to your appointment?  What don't you need to bring?

• -Some (but not all) vaccination centers, require you to show where you live. So bring your photo ID.
• -If you are qualified for vaccination because of your job, some (but not all) vaccination centers will ask you to show proof-of-employment. So bring a work badge, a letter from your employer, or a pay stub if it is your job that qualifies you.
• -If you are qualified for vaccination because of your age, some (but not all) vaccination centers will ask you to show proof of your birthday.  So bring your photo ID.
• -If you are qualified for vaccination because of an underlying health condition, you will NEVER be asked to show a doctor's note or any other proof. You just sign a document saying you have one of the conditions on the list.
• -You will be asked to provide a health insurance number if you have one, but you are NOT required to have insurance or share your insurance number.
• -You do NOT need a social security number to get the vaccine. 
• -You do NOT need to prove your are a citizen or have immigration documents.