COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs

Who currently qualifies for the COVID-19 vaccines?

As of Monday, March 29, 2021, everyone age 16 and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. All vaccines are authorized for people age 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 16 and older. Please see the Texas Department of State Health Services eligibility page for more information.

Is it safe to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. The CDC recommends that you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.

How can I schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine?

Click here, then follow the instructions to select and confirm your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the scheduling center at 936-305-8488. Other COVID-19 vaccine providers can be found on the Texas Department of State Health Services vaccine finder tool page.

Where can I find COVID-19 vaccine clinic information?

The Nacogdoches COVID-19 Team will post all vaccine clinics on this webpage and the Nacogdoches County Emergency Management Office Facebook page.

Do you know someone who is eligible for a vaccine but doesn’t have internet access?

Please let them know they can call (833) 832-7067 for a referral to a local vaccine provider.

Which COVID-19 vaccines require a second dose?

According to the CDC, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses for maximum protection, so people will need to get a second dose of the same vaccine three to six (Pfizer) or four to six (Moderna) weeks later. CDC guidance says the second dose can be administered up to 42 days later and there is no need to restart the series outside that timeframe. Please see the CDC’s website for further details.

Do I need health insurance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

You do not need to provide any form of payment or health insurance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Do I have to live in Nacogdoches County to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from the Nacogdoches County COVID-19 Team vaccine clinics?

No, the vaccine can administered to anybody who has scheduled an appointment.

Can I sign-up my entire household for a vaccine?

Multiple people within the same household will need to make their own appointment.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. According to the CDC, none of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

According to the CDC, there are several different types of vaccines in development. All of them teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

What symptoms can I experience after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

According to the CDC, you may experience pain, swelling, and redness on the arm where you got your shot. Other possible symptoms include fever, tiredness, muscle pain, nausea, and chills. Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. For more information, please see the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine symptoms page.

Who can I call if I further questions about the vaccine clinic or other related questions?

You can call the Nacogdoches Call Center at (936) 305-8488. The Call Center is open from 10 am to 3 pm on the Mondays and Tuesdays before vaccine clinics.

After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. According to the CDC, neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response—the goal of vaccination—there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results. For more information, please see the CDC’s website.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines really effective?

The CDC reported that all COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19 as seen in clinical trial settings.

Once I am fully vaccinated, what can I do?

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people can:

Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States.

According to the CDC, for now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:

Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing
Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease
Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households
Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings
Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
Follow guidance issued by individual employers
Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations

How many people need to get a COVID19 vaccine for herd immunity?

The CDC states that while experts don’t yet know how many people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, vaccination is a safer way to build protection than getting sick.

What is the current status of Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine?

As of Tuesday, April 13, 2021, both the CDC and FDA have recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in the United States out of an abundance of caution. The CDC convened a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday, April 14, to address this issue. People who have received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine within the past three weeks who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath should contact their health care provider. Additional updates from the CDC are available here.

Does my citizenship status impact my eligibility for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?

No, the Department of Homeland Security encourages all those residing in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of citizenship status. For more information, please see the federal Department of Homeland Security’s website.