Where To Get A Free Covid-19 Vaccine And What Side Effects To Expect

If you've decided to get the Covid-19 vaccine, you may be wondering where to get it and what to expect with typical side effects. Fortunately, it should be easy to find a place that offers free Covid-19 vaccine shots whether you have insurance or not. Here are some things to know about getting the vaccine.

Check Your Local Pharmacy

A good place to look for the Covid-19 vaccine is at a local pharmacy, even pharmacies in grocery stores. Check their websites to see what type of vaccines they offer and if you need to make an appointment. You can probably find a place where you can walk in and get a vaccine the same day.

Pharmacies aren't the only places that offer free vaccines, so you may want to use the internet and search for Covid-19 vaccines near you and see what locations pop up. When you go, take your identification and insurance information if you have insurance. You'll probably need to answer a short questionnaire about your health history too.

Choose Your Vaccine

Many locations offer you a choice between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. If you're not sure which one to choose, talk to your doctor first. These are both mRNA vaccines. Some locations offer the Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccine which is a viral vector immunization.

Prepare For A Possible Mild Reaction

When you receive your Covid-19 vaccine, you may be asked to wait at the site for several minutes to make sure you don't have a reaction. You might need to do this if you have allergies or if you have anxiety about your shot and there is a risk you might faint or have a reaction related to your anxiety rather than the vaccine.

A common reaction after the Covid-19 vaccine is a sore arm near the injection site. Your arm might be sore the next day, and the soreness might last a day or two. Everyone reacts differently, so soreness might be your only side effect. However, it's possible you'll have mild flu-like symptoms, especially after the second shot in the series. The symptoms are caused by your immune response to the shot and not because of exposure to a virus in the shot.

Watch For Booster Updates

After you're fully vaccinated, you'll want to pay attention to how the virus continues to spread and evolve so you can take boosters when and if they are recommended. Information about the virus and how to fight it is frequently updated as more is learned about how the virus spreads. Keeping current with your vaccines ensures you'll always be up to date and protected as well as possible against Covid-19.