Central District Health

COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccine Locations

Localidades de Vacunas contra el COVID-19

A Public Health Advisory is in Place for Ada, Boise, Elmore & Valley Counties

COVID DIRECTORY (ALL PAGES)

Vaccine Priority Groups

Healthcare Personnel | Currently eligible

Hospital staff essential for care of COVID-19 patients and maintaining hospital capacity (includes
support staff as well as clinical staff)
Outpatient clinic staff essential for care of COVID-19 patients and maintaining hospital capacity
Long-term care facility residents and staff (includes staff of adult day care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities)
Home care providers for adults ≥ 65 years of age, or for other adults/children with high-risk medical conditions (includes staff of certified family homes but does not include adult family members who provide in-home personal care for adults 65 years of age and older or for other adults or children with high-risk medical conditions)
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Outpatient and inpatient medical staff not already included above who are unable to telework
Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy aides
Public health and emergency management response workers who are unable to telework (includes Idaho National Guard deployed to support public health response, state and local public health COVID-19 responders who are unable to telework)
Clergy who enter healthcare facilities to provide religious support to patients

Frontline Workers | Currently eligible

Community food, housing, and relief services (includes Social Security Administration staff who are unable to telework and are serving vulnerable populations)
Psychiatric residential treatment facility staff
Adult and child protective services
Blood center workers
Child welfare workers
Coroners, medical examiners, mortuary and funeral services personnel
Interpreters (ASL or other language) should be vaccinated with the sector and setting in which they work
Radiation therapists
Residential schools/facilities providing behavioral health treatment
Optometrists
Idaho Fish and Game and USDA law enforcement officers
Janitorial and cleaning staff should be vaccinated with the sector and setting in which they work

Frontline Workers | Currently eligible

First responders (other than EMS) and safety (fire/police/protective services/community support)
Pre-K–12 school staff and teachers and daycare [childcare] workers
Correctional and detention facility staff (other than medical)

Currently being vaccinated

Idahoans 65 years and older
There are about 250,000 Idahoans in this group. Depending on supply, a tiered approach may be needed.

Currently being vaccinated

Food and agriculture workers (including food processing workers
USDA processing plant inspectors
Grocery, convenience store, & food pantry workers
Idaho National Guard (if not included earlier)
Manufacturing, public transit, and U.S. Postal Service workers
Flight crews
Subset of essential gas, electric, water, and telecommunications utility workers, who work indoors
Homeless shelter residents

Age plus Medical Condition alternating with Age Bands.
Medical conditions are defined as “are at increased risk” and “might be at increased risk” per the CDC. In addition, disabilities* are also included as a medical condition.

Age 55-64 with at least one medical condition | Currently eligible
Age 55-64 general population | Currently eligible
Age 45-54 with at least one medical condition | Currently eligible (Opened Wed., March 24, 2021)
Age 45-54 general population | Currently eligible (Opened Wed., March 24, 2021)
Age 16-44 with at least one medical condition | Currently eligible (Opened Monday, March 29)
Age 16-44 general population | Currently eligible (Opened Tuesday, March 30

Anyone who is 16-years and older & lives in a congregate setting | Currently eligible

Veterans | Veterans Affairs (VA) receives direct allocations from the Federal government.
Currently being vaccinated (based on CDC and VA risk criteria)

Veterans already receiving care from the Veterans Affairs.
Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at VA can learn more, HERE.

COVID-19 vaccine is arriving weekly in Central District Health's jurisdiction of Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties, and being offered to those eligible in Idaho.

Related Pages: State Vaccine Data | State Vaccine Website | When you've been fully vaccinated

When can I get vaccinated?

CDH is working with healthcare partners across our counties (Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley) to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible, working through the priority populations identified by the State of Idaho and the Governor. Public Health Districts are required to follow these priority groups and subgroups as closely as possible. We know this is a fluid and continually changing process. Your patience is greatly appreciated during this time.

Please view the tabs above to see where you fit among COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Idaho. Information on Vaccine Priority Groups can also be viewed on the state coronavirus website, When and where to get your vaccination, found HERE. The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Plan (interim) can be found HERE.

A vaccine for COVID-19 is only one of the ways to stop the spread of the disease. Because the supply of vaccine is currently limited, doing other things to help stop the spread will be just as important as it is now. This means still wearing a face mask, staying at least 6-feet away from others, washing your hands often, and staying home if you are sick.

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

Getting Vaccinated

Is it safe for me to get a vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?

People with underlying medical conditions can receive the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines provided they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine.

Learn more about vaccination considerations for persons with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

When will it be my turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is currently limited, CDC is providing recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. CDC’s recommendations are based on those of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts.

Each state has its own plan for deciding which groups of people will be vaccinated first. You can contact your state health department for more information on its plan for COVID-19 vaccination.

The goal is for everyone to be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination easily as soon as large quantities of vaccine are available. As the vaccine supply increases, more groups will be added to receive vaccination. Learn more aboutCDC recommendations for who should get vaccinated first.

How can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccination in Idaho is occurring in phases. COVID-19 vaccine for the general public is expected to be available in spring or summer. Healthcare workers are now getting vaccinated as part of Group 1 as well as Group 2, First Responders, Pre-K-12 School teachers/staff, Childcare/Daycare staff, and Correctional/Detention facility staff. Learn more about who is currenly eligible to get vaccinated, here.

When the vaccine is available to your priority group, it is anticipated that you will be able to get the vaccine through normal vaccination locations such as your employer, local health system, physician’s office, local public health district, or local pharmacy.

Find more information, HERE

Vaccine Safety (1 OF 3)

Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?

All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible. Systems that allow CDC to watch for safety issues are in place across the entire country.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines that have been shown to meet rigorous safety criteria and be effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. Watch a video describing the emergency use authorization.

Clinical trials for all vaccines must first show they meet rigorous criteria for safety and effectiveness before any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, can be authorized or approved for use. The known and potential benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine. Learn more about how federal partners are ensuring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

How can I learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccine has been developed, tested and approved?

Watch this brief video from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Is there a risk of a severe allergic reaction if I receive the vaccine?

Serious problems from vaccination can happen, but they are rare. CDC has learned of reports that some people have experienced severe allergic reactions—also known as anaphylaxis—after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. As an example, an allergic reaction is considered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen© or if they must go to the hospital. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and allergies.

The COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out quickly, how do we know it is safe?

These are not new technologies. The vaccines are actually set up to give us immunity that is better than natural infection. We know the side effects of the natural infection. When we compare the risks to those at the frontlines that are being exposed to the virus and those in our community who are at high-risk for severe disease and death, those risks greatly overshadow the unknown risks of the vaccine.

How do I decide if getting vaccinated is right for me?

Weigh the risk of contracting or spreading this potentially life-threatening disease to those who are vulnerable against the risks, side effects, safety and effectiveness of the vaccines offered.

Older age and underlying medical conditions including obesity, a compromised immune system, hypertension, COPD, diabetes, and heart disease increase the risk of severe illness from the virus and should be considered as well. You may wish to discuss with your primary care provider.

Vaccine Safety (2 OF 3)

Will I test positive for COVID-19 after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

Vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States won’t 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.

Do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve already had COVID-19?

Yes. Data from phase 2/3 clinical trials suggest that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe and likely efficacious in persons with evidence of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination should be offered to persons regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.

Can an ingredient in the vaccine cause infertility?

There isn’t any evidence from trials of the Pfizer vaccine that it affects fertility. As the vaccine stimulates an immune response to the spike protein, if it did affect fertility we might also expect to see Covid-19 infections affecting this too, as the body should produce a similar immune response if infected. This is not being seen.

Vaccine Safety (3 OF 3)

Is there anyone that should not receive the vaccine?

The Pfizer vaccine is not recommended for individuals under the age of 16 and the Moderna vaccine is not recommended for individuals under the age of 18.

There are currently no available data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, in pregnant or lactating people. However, if pregnant or lactating people are part of a group that is recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., healthcare personnel), they may choose to be vaccinated.

Both Pfizer and the Moderna vaccine require two doses (Pfizer 21 days apart; Moderna 28 days apart). Could an individual receive one dose of Pfizer and one dose of Moderna?

That is not recommended. If you receive the Pfizer vaccine for your first dose, then you need to receive the Pfizer vaccine for your second dose. This is the same for the Moderna vaccine.

Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

People who are pregnant and part of a group recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine may choose to be vaccinated. If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talking with a healthcare provider may might help you make an informed decision. While breastfeeding is an important consideration, it is rarely a safety concern with vaccines.

No data are available yet on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women or on the effects of mRNA vaccines on breastfed infants or on milk production/excretion. mRNA vaccines are not thought to be a risk to breastfeeding infants. 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.

To make sure that more information is gathered regarding the safety of these vaccines when administered during pregnancy, pregnant people are encouraged to enroll in v-safe, CDC’s new smartphone-based tool being used to check-in on people’s health after they receive a COVID-19 vaccine. If pregnant people report health events through v-safe after vaccination, someone from CDC may call to check on them and get more information. Additionally, pregnant people enrolled in v-safe will be contacted by CDC and asked to participate in a pregnancy registry that will monitor them through pregnancy and the first 3 months of infancy.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Vaccine Distribution

What is being done to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines at the federal level?

The federal government oversees a centralized system to order, distribute, and track COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccines are ordered through CDC. Vaccination providers receive vaccines from CDC’s centralized distributor or directly from a vaccine manufacturer. Two vaccines are authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19 in the United States. Other COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in development, and clinical trials are being conducted at the same time as large-scale manufacturing. The implementation of COVID-19 vaccine distribution involved detailed planning focusing on every step of the process including:

Establishing and testing logistical plans with manufacturers and commercial partners that are part of CDC’s centralized COVID-19 vaccine delivery system
Coordinating the distribution of vaccines and needed supplies from centralized locations
Developing processes for ordering additional doses of the vaccine after the first supply has been shipped
Receiving, storing, and handling vaccines properly at very specific temperatures
Deciding who should receive a vaccine first, based on national recommendations, if there are not enough doses of the vaccine for everyone
Giving the vaccines safely during an ongoing pandemic
Reporting on vaccine inventory, administration, and safety using a variety of new and enhanced data systems
Expanding safety surveillance through new systems and additional information sources, as well as scaling up existing safety monitoring systems
Developing plans to assess vaccine effectiveness, which means how well the vaccines protect against COVID-19 under real-life conditions
Making sure the public, healthcare providers, state and local health departments and others receive timely, credible, clear communication about all aspects of the vaccination program

A safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of the U.S. strategy to reduce COVID-19-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. The U.S. government’s goal is to have enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for all people in the United States who choose to be vaccinated.

When will COVID-19 vaccines be widely available in the United States?

Manufacturing very large quantities of vaccine takes time. The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine when large quantities are available for distribution.

CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have published recommendations for which groups should be vaccinated first to help guide decisions about how to distribute limited initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccine.

CDC makes recommendations for who should be offered COVID-19 vaccine first, and each state has its own plan to prioritize, distribute, and allocate vaccine. Learn more about how CDC makes vaccine recommendations. As more vaccines are authorized for use in the United States and the supply of vaccines increases, several thousand vaccination locations will be available, such as doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers. Please contact your state health department for more information on its plan for COVID-19 vaccination.

After Vaccination

Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I'm fully vaccinated?

Yes. Not enough information is currently available to say if or when CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions before making that decision. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision. We also don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself. CDC will continue to update this page as we learn more.

While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic. To protect yourself and others, follow these recommendations:

Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
Stay at least 6 feet away from others
Avoid crowds
Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
Wash your hands often

Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations for how to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.

In March, 2021, the CDC provided some updated information for persons who are fully vaccinated. If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.
You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
- However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

View more FAQs on what to expect after you've been vaccinated, HERE.

Documents and Information Links

Information for the General Public

FAQs for Vaccinated Individuals | CDH Flyer (3/26/21)
COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language (3/19/21)
COVID-19 Vaccine Information in Plain Language in Spanish (3/19/21)
How to protect yourself after being fully vaccinated | Department of Health & Welfare (3/12/21)
COVID-19 Vaccine comparison chart | Department of Health & Welfare (3/11/21)
Questions regarding approved COVID-19 vaccines | Department of Health & Welfare
COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation, Ordering, & Distribution Flow | Department of Health & Welfare
Power & Immunity: Information for protecting our bodies & our communities | American Lung Association
How do COVID-19 Vaccines Work | Video
How COVID-19 Vaccines are Made | Video
COVID-19 Facts from Fiction | Video
COVID-19 Vaccines are safe, here's why | CDH Flyer (1/29/21)
CDH Vaccine Information Session Presentation (1/27/21)
What to Know about Continuing to Protect Others after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine - DHW
Learning about the COVID-19 Vaccine - Healthwise
COVID-19 Vaccine: Care Instructions - Healthwise
Department of Health & Welfare - Idaho FAQs on COVID-19 Vaccine [regularly updated]
Vaccine Ingredients (flyer)
Vaccine Safety (FDA) | Video (3 minutes)
Vaccine Safety (CDC) | Webpage
State of Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Webpage
DHW Voice Blog - COVID Q & A: Getting vaccinated
Finding Credible Vaccine Information - flyer
COVID-19 Safety & Monitoring - flyer
Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work - flyer
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccine - CDC
FDA COVID-19 Vaccines - News, Updates, Basic Info

Information for Healthcare Providers

If you are a healthcare provider within Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley Counties that is not enrolled to give vaccine, please call the CDH Call Center to have your practice added to a list for vaccine coordination. 208-321-2222 Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

IDAHO-SPECIFIC RESOURCES

FEDERAL/OTHER RESOURCES