Vaccine
Oscar Medical Center
COVID-19 Vaccine
Registration Instructions
It is a privilege to serve our community as we work together to end the pandemic! There is very limited vaccine supply and appointment availability. Oscar Medical Center follows state and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccine administration.
| Phase 1a+ | ||
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| Eligible Individuals |
Please follow the Georgia Department of Public Health website. | |
| New Patients | Established Patients | |
| Definition | Seen by an Oscar Medical Center primary care doctor/NP within the past two years and be in good standing |
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| Registration Updates |
Please visit If you would like to become Please call the We are a community We hope to have the
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Last Updated: 3/31/2021 @ 8am At this time, we are fully Oscar Medical Center vaccine allocation Please know that we are |
| Instructions | If you have a confirmed appointment, print and bring a completed hard copy of the below packet and requested documents to your vaccine appointment. – ESTABLISHED PATIENT PACKET |
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- If you cannot keep your appointment, please notify us immediately.
- On the day of your appointment, plan to be in the office for an hour to allow for observation and follow-up scheduling.
- You will be asked to schedule your second dose approximately ~3-4 weeks after your first appointment. The second dose appointment will be scheduled when checking out after the first vaccine is administered.
When can I get the vaccine?
Please follow the news and Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines. Oscar Medical Center strictly adheres to this eligibility.
Vaccine is in high demand and limited in quantity. Vaccine availability is the limiting factor for making appointments in the short term while vaccine providers across the state (i.e. health departments, hospitals, physicians offices, pharmacies, etc.) await their order allocations.
Oscar Medical Center is releasing appointments only for the amount of vaccine currently in stock. If there are no appointments available, that means we have scheduled appointments to exhaust our supply of vaccine. We will not release additional appointments until we have received more doses of vaccine to ensure we can meet demand. Thank you for your patience.
About the Vaccine
Safety is a top priority in delivering a COVID-19 vaccine. Once a company develops a vaccine, it must go through a rigorous scientific testing process before it can be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA independently reviews the information from these tests to make sure the vaccine is safe and works well, and then decides whether the vaccine can be licensed and made available to the public.
The FDA granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 11. According to clinical trial data reviewed by the FDA, the most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose.
- FDA Vaccine Fact Sheet for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Recipients & Caregivers)
- FDA Vaccine Fact Sheet for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Recipients & Caregivers)
- CDC’s V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker (PDF)
- FDA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- FDA Letter Authorizing Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
After a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible adverse events. If an unexpected serious adverse event is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern.
For additional information:
- FAQs About COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC)
- Understanding COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines (CDC)
- What is Emergency Use Authorization? (FDA)
Vaccine Records: You will receive a vaccination record that shows which vaccine you received and when so you are able to track which vaccine you need for your second dose and when you will need to receive the second dose.
FAQ
Q: Why do I need an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine? Why can’t I walk in the way I do for a flu shot?
A:
- The COVID-19 vaccine doses are packaged in vials of 5 (Pfizer) and 10 (Moderna). Once the vial is opened, it must be used within a matter of hours.
- Current vaccine supply is limited. Oscar Medical Center is committed to zero wasted doses of this life-saving vaccine.
- Rarely, severe reactions have been reported with the COVID-19 vaccine. You must be monitored by a physician for 15-30 minutes in a socially distanced holding area after you receive your dose.
Q: What if I have had a recent positive test or symptoms of COVID-19?
A: Defer vaccination until the isolation period has ended to avoid exposing healthcare personnel or other persons during vaccination visit. The CDC says, “Vaccination should be deferred until recovery from acute illness (if person had symptoms) and criteria have been met to discontinue isolation.”
Q: What if I have already had COVID-19 and have recovered?
A: If you have recovered from a prior case of COVID-19, you are still eligible to get the vaccine once your quarantine period concludes. Guidance from CDC indicates that “vaccination should be offered to persons regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.” If your confirmed infection was within 90 days you may choose to postpone immunization.
Q: What if I work in a medical office, but don’t work in a hospital setting, are my staff and I eligible?
A: Yes.
Q: What if I am currently part of a double-blind COVID-19 Vaccine Study, should I sign up?
A: Please defer vaccination and check with the administrators of the research study first to ensure you will not compromise results of the research.
Q: Can I get the vaccine if I already had COVID and/or have antibodies?
A: You should still get vaccinated, as we know that not everyone who has had COVID develops antibodies, we don’t know whether all antibodies are protective, and we don’t know how long any protection lasts.
Q: Can I get the vaccine if I recently was exposed to COVID?
A: Defer your vaccination until after the 14-day incubation period from your test and remain asymptomatic to get vaccinated. Consult your healthcare provider on when you can receive the vaccine.
Q: Can I get the vaccine if I am experiencing COVID symptoms?
A: If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, please consult your physician.
Q: How much is the vaccine?
A: The vaccine itself is a federally funded resource, and no patient will be charged for the vaccine itself. We administer the vaccine in our office under the supervision of a physician and/or nurse practitioner to monitor for side effects.
Q: When will I get the second dose?
A: Two doses of vaccine are needed at a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks apart. You will be asked to schedule your second dose when you receive your first dose to ensure you get maximum protection.
Questions?
If you have general questions about COVID-19 vaccine, please see our FAQs. If you have specific questions related to the pre-screening process for Phase 1a+, please call the Department of Public Health (470) 355-2340.