All Pennsylvanians 12 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine
To find an appointment near you, use the Vaccine Finder.
Text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible vaccination sites in your area, with phone numbers to call for an appointment.
If you need help, call the PA Department of Health Hotline at 1-877-724-3258.
Third Dose Authorized for Immune Compromised
The FDA has authorized a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna for people with compromised immune systems. The CDC has recommended the additional doses, and the PA Department of Health will continue to provide updates as they become available.
The amended Emergency Use Authorizations allow for people who have had an organ transplant, or those with a similar level of weakened immune system, to get an extra dose of the same shot they have initially received. Mixing of vaccines is permitted for the third shot if their original vaccine is not available.
If you are pregnant and have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, you can contact MotherToBaby. Experts are available to answer questions in English or Spanish by phone or chat. The free and confidential service is available Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (local time). To reach MotherToBaby, call 1-866-626-6847 or chat live or send an email to MotherToBaby.
Free COVID-19 Vaccines at Fairs
You can get a COVID-19 vaccine at the below fairs. No registration is needed. Clinics have been scheduled for the following dates and times at:
Additional COVID-19 vaccination clinics at fairs are currently being planned. Fairs interested in offering a COVID-19 vaccination clinic should contact the PA Department of Health to discuss the possibility of setting up a clinic.
COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, which includes studies in adolescents. To find out more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens, please visit the CDC’s website.
Get Testing if You Have COVID-19 Symptoms
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested for the virus – especially if you have been in contact with someone who has been infected. For those who are fully vaccinated, the CDC guidance only recommends you get tested if you’ve had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
For more about COVID-19 symptoms and to find testing sites near you, visit PA.GOV/COVID.
Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Everyone 12 and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania.
Protect Yourself Against Variants by Getting Vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are still the best way to protect against the virus – including against new variants like the Delta variant. The data shows current COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death in patients who have one of the variants of the virus.
New variants of COVID-19 are emerging around the world. Viruses are constantly changing, and viral mutations are common. We see this happen in other viruses, like in the virus that causes influenza.
Viruses that spread rapidly have more opportunity for their genetic material to change, so variants can emerge faster than for viruses that spread more slowly. Some of the most common COVID-19 variants appear to spread faster than the original virus.
Question of the Week
If I am pregnant, should I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. The CDC is urging pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are also recommended for those who are breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant now, or who may become pregnant in the future. There is no increased risk of miscarriage or effects on fertility among those who have gotten the vaccine.
Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.
Pregnant people and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you from severe illness from COVID-19.
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA
PA Dept. of Health Hotline: 1-877-724-3258 Web: PA.GOV/COVID
