
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING of our community is our top priority. Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is working closely with community partners to prevent and respond to the evolving novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
As of January 23, New York State has instructed Local Health Departments to prioritize administration of allocated COVID-19 vaccine doses to essential workers in phase 1b. For the week of January 25, The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) will offer the available doses to first responder agencies, corrections staff, and workers in P-12 schools.
TCHD will reach out to others eligible in phase 1b as more vaccine becomes available. Registration will be coordinated through the targeted organizations and entities and will not be available to the public.
NYS has designated pharmacies to vaccinate the 65+ age group, and appointments are limited (info here). Everyone eligible under Phase 1b may make an appointment at one of the NYS-operated vaccination sites (info here).
Get local updates from the Tompkins County Health Department regarding COVID-19 and vaccine distribution in our community
NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline: Open 7AM - 10PM, 7 days a week, for scheduling vaccination appointments for eligible New Yorkers: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).
Vaccination Clinic Information
Individuals being vaccinated must produce proof of eligibility.
New York is expanding its provider network for vaccine distribution. To assist with Phase 1b vaccine administration, the expanded network will include doctor networks, Federally Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, ambulatory centers, pharmacies, and State-operated sites.
All vaccine providers in New York State must follow New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidance regarding vaccine prioritization, as well as any other directives.
Additional clinic times will be listed as information becomes available.
DO NOT GO to the vaccination site unless you have a comfirmed appointment.
Click here to open in Google Maps
New York State has designated retail pharmacies for vaccinating people age 65 and older (65+). Pharmacies in NYS are receiving only a limited supply of vaccine from the state, and may only make appointments based on the number of doses they are being allocated at any given time.
If you have questions, please refer to the pharmacy websites. TCHD and 2-1-1 will not have information about vaccination clinics at pharmacies.
For all questions about clinics at any of the pharmacies listed above, please contact the pharmacy through their website. TCHD will not have information about vaccination clinics at pharmacies.
NOTE: All of the following are subject to change without notice. The information below is being updated as new information is available at the NYS Phased Distribution web page.
An individual's eligibility does not expire as the plan moves from phase to phase.
NYS Priority Phases were originally published in the October 2020 NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Program book (page 29), and outlined 5 Phases.
Continue to follow these safety guidelines while the community gets vaccinated
— Click any image for information on that topic —
Vacunas: Preguntas Frecuentes (PDF)
The Tompkins County Health Department is urging everyone in our community to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as it becomes available. The vaccine is being distributed in phases detailed here on this web page. The Health Department and Cayuga Health System will frequently update the community as the phases progress.
Widescale vaccination is critical for developing immunity in our community. Herd immunity or community immunity means a high percentage of people are vaccinated and their immunity against the virus will stop the transmission as well as protect those who are unable to get the vaccine. Experts suggest that at least 70% of the population need to be vaccinated to stop the spread. The Tompkins County Health Department is encouraging 100% of those who are able, to get vaccinated.
Everyone has a part in ensuring that the community stays healthy and safe. In addition to continuing to wear masks, maintain distance, wash hands, and follow gathering guidance, we can all encourage our friends, family, and neighbors to get vaccinated when it is available. Follow this webpage and the Health Department’s social media channels for updates on the vaccine in our community.
The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same rigorous review that all vaccines must follow in the U.S. As of December 30, 2020, two vaccines have been approved by the FDA: the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine.
These approvals followed three rounds of clinical trials with thousands of participants with a diverse range of race, age, and other demographics.
Moderna Fact Sheet for recipients and caregivers (PFD from the FDA website)
It is the job of the U.S. vaccine safety system to make sure that all vaccines meet its highest standards. The new COVID-19 vaccines have been evaluated in tens of thousands of individuals who volunteered to participate in clinical trials that were conducted according to rigorous standards required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Through this process the FDA determined that the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines meet its safety and effectiveness standards. Therefore, the FDA has made these vaccines available for use in the United States under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization. The FDA and the CDC continue to monitor the vaccines and the vaccination process for effectiveness and adverse events.
In New York, the State’s independent COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Task Force, made up of prominent health experts, also approved these COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective. These principles are number 1 and 2 of the State's Guiding Principles for vaccination distribution and administration.
Yes. Even though no safety issues arose during the clinical trials, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners will continue to monitor the new vaccines for serious side effects that may not have been seen in clinical trials. Any unexpected side effect will be quickly studied to determine if it is an isolated incident or a broader safety concern.
Experts are working on many types of real-world studies to determine vaccine effectiveness, and each uses a different method. CDC will use several methods because they can all contribute different information about how the vaccine is working.
Details about the different types of studies are in this PDF.
Side effects that have been reported with the Pfizer vaccine include:
There is a remote chance that the Pfizer vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction including difficulty breathing, swelling of your face and throat, rapid heartbeat, a rash all over your body, dizziness and weakness. Severe allergic reactions usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting vaccinated. For this reason, individuals are asked to stay at the clinic site for a 15 to 30 minute observation period after they get their shot. If you experience a severe allergic reaction, seek medical attention or call 9-1-1.
Yes. The science shows that the vaccine provides better and longer-lasting protection than the defenses your body builds up when you were infected. If you are sick with COVID-19 now, you must wait and finish the 10-day isolation period before you make an appointment to be vaccinated.
Most likely. The first two vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, have 90-95% efficacy at preventing the disease when administered the way the manufacturer has specified. Some may develop a mild case of COVID-19. Researchers believe the current vaccines will also provide protection against the emerging UK variant, though the effectiveness rate may not be as high, and higher coverage rates may be needed.
Currently, there are limited data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for women who are pregnant. While studies have not yet been done, based on how mRNA vaccines work experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for people who are pregnant. mRNA vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 and therefore cannot give someone COVID-19. Additionally, mRNA vaccines do not interact with the cell's DNA because the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell. Cells break apart the mRNA quickly. Ongoing studies and clinical trials will provide more insight on the potential risks of mRNA vaccines to a pregnant woman and her fetus.
Observational data demonstrate that, while the chances for these severe health effects are infrequent, pregnant women with COVID-19 have an increased risk of severe illness. Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm births.
There are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women or on the effects of mRNA vaccines on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. mRNA vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant. People who are breastfeeding and are part of a group recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, such as healthcare personnel, may choose to be vaccinated. If they have questions around getting vaccinated while breastfeeding, a discussion with a healthcare provider might help them make an informed decision.
No, approved vaccines will not 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, which is 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.
No. None of the vaccines approved or under review for use in the U.S. use the live virus that causes a COVID-19 infection.
While different types of vaccines work in different ways, all trigger the body’s immune system to develop a type of white blood cell to fight a specific virus. This typically takes a few weeks after vaccination and that lag in your immune response makes it possible for you to be infected with the virus just before or just after vaccination, and get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection.
Be sure the vaccination provider is aware of all of your medical conditions, including if you:
This is still being studied.
Following the Federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidance on distribution phases, New York State has amended the CDC phases to accommodate the State's population. Phases are outlined above.
The timeline is largely dependent on the supply of vaccine that is allocated to the County. New York's supply of vaccine is determined by the federal government, and the State then portions available doses to Regions based on population. New York is mandating social equity and fair distribution among eigible priority groups to ensure fair treatment and proportionate allocations both by group and by Region. The Tompkins County Health Department will notify the community of who should sign up to be vaccinated through press releases and updates to this web page.
The Phase dates are only to mark when a group may begin to be vaccinated. There is no end-date for a group to be vaccinated. However, the Health Department urges everyone to be vaccinated as soon as possible after they become eligible. Getting vaccinated is crucial to keep you, your family, and our community healthy and safe.
In the early phases of vaccine distribution individuals will be required to provide proof of employment and a government issued photo ID. Required documentation is listed below.
If you have questions about whether you meet these criteria after you read the guidance or have questions about registration, you may email the Tompkins County Health Department at COVID19vaccines@tompkins-co.org.
We are only able to take registrations for the doses that we have available. The supply of vaccine is unpredictable and therefore we are unable to guarantee slots ahead of time. This is impacted directly by the State’s allocation system.
No. There are pharmacists on site who carefully manage vaccine supply, including storage and administration. Each dose is accounted for by an audited system and stored properly for administration to the currently eligible population, so there are very few doses left over after any given clinic. Any that might be are used for priority populations — healthcare and first responder — who are contacted directly through their employer.
Both of the currently approved vaccines require a second dose to increase their effectiveness. The Pfizer vaccine second dose should be 21 days after the first shot, and the Moderna vaccine’s second shot should be taken 28 days after the first.
The schedule for doses of each vaccine is based on data from clinical trials. Everyone who receives a first dose of the vaccine should get the second dose according to schedule in order to provide the best possible protection against the disease.
There have not been enough studies to know if a delayed second shot will still reach the full effectiveness or each vaccine. When each vaccine is taken on their recommended schedule, they are extremely effective in preventing COVID-19.
There is no residency requirement for being vaccinated at a Tompkins County facility.
There is no charge or co-pay to be vaccinated. However, if you have health insurance or Medicare Part B, bring your card with you to the clinic.
The vaccine is given as an injection in the arm. Currently, the vaccine requires two doses to reach the 90-95% effectiveness shown in clinical trials. The doses are given 3 or 4 weeks apart, depending on which vaccine you are given. Your second dose must be from the same manufacturer as the first dose.
After your first dose, you may get a vaccination card to show you when to return for your second dose. Remember to bring your card when you return.
Individuals being vaccinated must produce proof of eligibility. If an individual is eligible due to their employment status, they must prove they are employed in the State of New York. Such proof may include:
If an individual is eligible due to their age, they must produce proof of age and proof of residence in New York State. To prove New York residence, an individual must show:
No one will be vaccinated without proof of their occupation, age, or priority status, as applicable, as well as proof of residence or employment in New York. Executive Order 202.86 imposes monetary penalties for any provider vaccinating an individual who has not certified eligibility or for whom the provider otherwise has knowledge the individual is not a member of a priority group. (Source: NYS Guidance, 1/19/2021)
Step-by-step through the Cayuga Health System vaccination clinic (from the CHS patient packet):
Continue to cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, stay 6 feet away from others who are not in your household, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often. All of these precautions must continue as you wait for the second dose and as we wait for a majority of the population to be vaccinated. Everyone must continue to use all the tools available to us to stop this pandemic as experts continue to learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide us.
The TCHD has been planning and practicing the distribution of Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) during public health emergencies for many years, and is preparing to manage the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
If you have questions about whether you meet these criteria after you read the guidance or have questions about registration, you may email the Tompkins County Health Department at COVID19vaccines@tompkins-co.org, or call 2-1-1 (877-211-8667)
Everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu shot to be immunized against influenza now. Visit your local pharmacy or your health care practitioner today. More info is here.