Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Vaccines

OMC COVID-19 INFORMATION: Testing, Policies and Resources | Vaccine Information

We understand you might have questions about community vaccination clinics in Clallam County, when you can receive your second dose, how long it takes to develop immunity and more. See below for answers to those frequently asked questions and more. 

For additional information, see the Centers for Disease Control or the Washington State Department of Health.

Who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine?
In the current phase of vaccinations, as prescribed by the Washington State Department of Health, all individuals 65 years or older are currently eligible.

Where can I be vaccinated? 
The Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services has elected to hold community vaccination clinics for individuals who are currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination in partnership with Olympic Medical Center and North Olympic Healthcare Network for the greater Port Angeles area, including Joyce, Jamestown Family Health Clinic in Sequim and Forks Community Hospital for residents of the West End.

Individuals must register in advance via Clallam County Health. REGISTER

Vaccinations are not available at Olympic Medical Physician clinics at this time. Individuals who are interested in receiving the vaccine and who are currently eligible can participate in the mass vaccination clinics in Port Angeles and Sequim.

For more information, visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Information page.

What is OMC’s role in community vaccination?
Olympic Medical Center will provide staffing and supply of the Pfizer vaccine at the Port Angeles vaccination clinic on two weekends each in February and March. At this time, the Port Angeles vaccination clinic occurs at the Port Angeles High School Gymnasium (304 E. Park Avenue, Port Angeles, WA).

OMC’s vaccination clinics in Port Angeles will be held on the following dates:

• February 6-7
• February 27-28
• March 6-7
• March 27-28

North Olympic Healthcare Network will provide staffing and supply of the Moderna vaccine at the Port Angeles vaccination clinics on the remaining two weekends in February and March.

OMC is also providing staffing at the Jamestown Family Health Clinic vaccination clinics in Sequim, beginning February 2.

OMC began vaccinating its health care workers on Dec. 18, 2020, following the phased guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination, as prescribed by the Washington State Department of Health. By early February, OMC will have administered both doses of the vaccine and inoculated approximately 1,200 health care workers. At the same time, OMC has been sharing doses out of both its Pfizer and Moderna vaccine allotments with community vaccination clinics in Clallam County.

How do I sign up for one of the vaccine clinics in Port Angeles or Sequim?
Individuals who wish to participate in these vaccinations will need to register online in advance via the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services. If registration is full, please regularly monitor for future clinics to be scheduled.

Why are there different vaccination clinics?
OMC is administering the Pfizer vaccine. Jamestown Family Health Clinic and North Olympic Healthcare Network are both administering the Moderna vaccine. The two vaccines are not interchangeable. Individuals must receive the same vaccine for both their first and second doses.

If I get my first dose at an OMC clinic, do I have to get my second dose at an OMC clinic?
Yes. OMC and NOHN vaccination clinics are offering different vaccines. The vaccine produced by Pfizer is not interchangeable with the vaccine produce by Moderna, and vice versa.

When can I get the second dose of the vaccine?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals who receive the Pfizer vaccine must wait at least 17 days before receiving their second dose. Individuals who receive the Moderna vaccine must wait at least 28 days before receiving their second dose. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.

When you receive your first dose of the vaccine, you will receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, detailing the date and manufacturer of your first dose. Please retain this and bring it to your second vaccination appointment, when scheduled.

If I get my first vaccination elsewhere, can I get my second one at one of these events?
No, as outlined above, the Pfizer vaccine is not interchangeable with the Moderna vaccine and vice versa. You should seek to obtain your second dose from the same entity that provided your first.

When will I develop immunity to COVID-19?
With Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, it typically takes about two weeks after receiving the second dose for an individual to develop the most robust immunity to COVID-19.

Why isn’t OMC vaccinating their patients at this time?
The focus at this time is on mass community vaccination. The vaccines are being directed to that effort, and are not available at Olympic Medical Physician clinics at this time. Individuals who are interested in receiving the vaccine and who are currently eligible can participate in the community vaccination clinics in Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks according to eligibility and availability.

In the current phase of vaccinations, as prescribed by the Washington State Department of Health, all individuals 65 years or older are currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

How much will it cost to receive the vaccine?
There is no cost to an individual to receive the vaccine.

After I’ve registered for an appointment at one of the vaccine clinics, what should I bring on the date of my vaccination?
Individuals should bring a photo ID and insurance card, and should plan on wearing a short-sleeve shirt. Although there is no cost to you, insurance may be billed for administration of the vaccine.  When individuals return for their second dose of the vaccine, they should bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, which they will get upon receiving their first dose of the vaccine. The COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card will detail the date and manufacturer of an individual’s first dose.

Who determines who is eligible to receive the vaccine?
The Washington State Department of Health has implemented a phased approach to COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, this approach prioritizes those at the highest risk of exposure, such as health care workers and first responders, as well as highly vulnerable populations, while applying equity as a cross-cutting lens to consider groups that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due to external social factors and systemic inequities.

What side effects might I expect after receiving the vaccine?
After you receive the vaccine, it is normal that you may experience some side effects. These side effects should go away in a few days and are a sign that your body is building protection from getting COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is common to feel pain or swelling in the arm in which you received the shot. It is also common to experience fever, chill, tiredness or headache. The CDC recommends contacting your healthcare provider if redness or tenderness around where you received the shot increases after 24 hours or if your side effects do not seem to be going away after a few days.