Health and Wellness

COVID-19

Vaccine Information

The COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. vaccination program are rapidly evolving. Check this page often for updates.

CalOptima cares about your health. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and will help protect you and your loved ones from getting COVID-19. The supply of vaccines will be limited at first. The County of Orange is following the State of California’s guidance for fair access to the COVID-19 vaccines. That means vaccines are given out based on eligible tiers or groups. CalOptima is working with the County of Orange to see when you are eligible to receive your vaccine. We will do our best to tell you in advance, however you might hear about it before we can tell you. The vaccines will be given to you at no cost.

CalOptima is aware of a mailing error with the gift cards sent between August 4–19, and is correcting it. If you received the COVID-19 vaccine, you will be sent a new $25 gift card. We are sorry for any trouble this may have caused you and thank you for your patience. If you have questions, please call CalOptima’s Health Management department at 1-714-246-8895 (TTY 711). We are here to help you Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p. m.

COVID-19 Vaccine Member Health Rewards

Eligible CalOptima members 12 years of age or older can receive a $25 gift card for each COVID-19 dose received or a $25 gift card if you get the single dose vaccine. These no-cost gift cards will be available for members less than 12 years of age once the vaccine is approved for children 11 years and younger. Gift cards will be mailed after CalOptima confirms through the California Immunization Registry that you received your COVID-19 vaccine.

 
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine, please be patient as there may be delays in confirming your vaccination and mailing your gift card(s) for the COVID-19 Vaccine Member Health Rewards program. If you received a vaccine that requires 2 doses, you may receive your gift card for the 1st and 2nd doses at different times. Thank you for your patience.

 
 Frequently Asked Questions


COVID-19 Vaccine Message From Community Leaders

Orange County leaders know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. They share how you can help stop the pandemic. With everyone vaccinated, we can return our community back to normal life faster. Protect you and your family. Make your vaccine appointment at Othena.com today. Don’t wait, vaccinate!

How to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination information is rapidly changing. Please check often for more details about where to get vaccinated.

 
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone age 12 and older, who lives or works in Orange County.

For more details, visit the OC Health Care Agency’s COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution webpage.  

After your 1st dose, the 2nd dose should be given as close to the 21 days for Pfizer or 28 days for Moderna. If that is not possible, the 2nd dose can be given up to 6 weeks after the 1st first dose. This recommendation is by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccine guidelines.  

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Call Your Health Network

CalOptima members in the groups above can call their health network to request a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or sign up through Othena.com.  

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Othena.com

If you live or work in Orange County you can register on the Othena website at www.othena.com to be notified when you are eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. When you are eligible, you will receive a notification to sign up for an appointment on the Othena app. Please be patient as the website is experiencing high volume.

Watch video tips about Othena 

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Pharmacies

Some pharmacies offer the COVID-19 vaccine to people in eligible tiers or groups. Visit the links below for details about how to get vaccinated at a participating pharmacy.

Visit the CVS Pharmacy vaccine web page 

Visit the Rite Aid Pharmacy vaccine web page 

Visit the Walgreens Pharmacy vaccine web page 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost?

Vaccines purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost.

Read more at the California Department of Managed Health Care.  

What are the facts about COVID-19 vaccines?

Correct vaccine information is vital, the CDC provides current facts here.  

  1. Fact: COVID-19 vaccines will not give you COVID-19.
  2. Fact: COVID-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on COVID-19 viral tests.
  3. Fact: People who have been sick with COVID-19 will still benefit from getting vaccinated.
  4. Fact: Getting vaccinated can help prevent you getting sick with COVID-19.
  5. Fact: Getting an mRNA vaccine will not alter your DNA.

What are the 8 things to know about the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program?

  1. The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority.
  2. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. Two doses are needed.
  3. Right now, the CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine be offered to health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.
  4. At this time there is a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., but the supply will increase in the weeks and months to come.
  5. After COVID-19 vaccination, you may have some side effects. This is a normal sign that your body is building protection.
  6. Cost is not a problem to getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
  7. Two COVID-19 vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many other vaccines are still being created and tested.
  8. COVID-19 vaccines are one of the many key tools to help us stop this pandemic.

Click here, to learn more at the CDC website.

What are the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

For the CDC details about the these benefits, click here.  

  • The COVID-19 vaccine will greatly reduce your risk of getting COVID-19.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine will be a safer way to help build protection.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic.

How is your privacy protected if you take the COVID-19 vaccine?

California law strictly limits how personal information about those who are vaccinated can be shared. California worked with the federal government to limit the required data sharing to only information that will not allow a person to be identified.

For CDPH details, click here.  

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the COVID-19 vaccine, click the links below:

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs 

Orange County Health Care Agency for Local COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for National COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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