Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine information
Updated Feb. 23, 2021

The CDC and CDPH have given health systems guidance for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, based on the risk of certain populations contracting the disease. UC Davis Health is following these vaccination recommendations. We look forward to expanding to more groups soon, based upon vaccine supply. The phases are detailed below:

Phase 1a:

• Health care workers
• Residents in long-term care facilities

Phase 1b:

• People ages 75 years and older
• People ages 65-74 (in California only)
• People at risk of exposure at work in these sectors: education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture
• Beginning March 15, California has authorized health care providers to use clinical judgement to vaccinate people age 16-64 who are at highest risk for COVID-19 because of one or more of the following severe health conditions:
  • Cancer (current with debilitated or immunocompromised state)
  • Chronic kidney disease (stage 4 or above)
  • Chronic pulmonary disease (oxygen dependent)
  • Down syndrome
  • Immunocompromised (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, excluding hypertension)
  • Severe obesity (body mass index greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2)
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%)
• Congregate settings with outbreak risk including those who are incarcerated and homeless
• People at risk of exposure at work in these sectors: transportation and logistics; industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services; critical manufacturing

Phase 1c:

• People age 50-64 without severe health conditions
• People at risk of exposure at work in these sectors: water and wastewater; defense; energy; chemical and hazardous materials; communications and IT; financial services; government operations/community-based essential functions

View the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine recommendation tiers

See the CDPH's guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine tiers

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars are free to Americans, according to the CDC. However, vaccine providers can charge administration fees for giving the vaccine to people. Providers can get this fee reimbursed by a patient’s private or public insurance company. For those who are uninsured, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund can reimburse the provider.

We are currently vaccinating UC Davis Health patients in the CDPH's Phase 1a and 1b. This includes our patients age 65 and older, as well as those who work in the following sectors:

• Education and childcare
• Emergency services
• Food and agriculture

You must show proof of current employment in one of these areas, such as a current employee ID or a current paystub, in order to be vaccinated. You will not be vaccinated if you can't prove your current status in one of the employment groups above.

We're gathering information through MyUCDavisHealth from our current primary care patients in these occupational groups. Collecting this information will allow us to contact patients to schedule appointments as vaccine supply allows. If you work in one of the above three areas, please go to MyUCDavisHealth and complete the questionnaire to let us know:

1. in which area you work.
2. if you want to receive a vaccine through UC Davis Health, or if you will be vaccinated through your employer or elsewhere.

UC Davis Health is following state and federal guidelines, and we're delivering coronavirus vaccine doses as fast they arrive. Our patients will be notified through MyUCDavisHealth, by email, phone call or a letter when they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. While we are vaccinating large numbers of people, we're also reaching out separately to members of at-risk and hard-to-reach groups to ensure they have the opportunity to be vaccinated as well.

Once we know vaccine availability, we will reach out to patients through MyUCDavisHealth, by email, U.S. mail or telephone messages when they are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. MyUCDavisHealth is the preferred mechanism as it's much more efficient, and patients can self-schedule appointments. If you haven't already, please sign up for MyUCDavisHealth, which is available on desktop or as an app on your mobile device. Only patients who have been notified by UC Davis Health are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Sign up to be notified when you're able to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

As we have more vaccine quantities available, we expect to open up COVID-19 vaccinations to more people. We will make additional announcements at those times through the communications methods above.

Get more information about how to get a vaccine as a UC Davis Health patient

Learn more about how UC Davis Health is vaccinating patients

UC Davis Health is now scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments for patients age 65 and over, as well as those who work in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture. Appointments are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once all available appointments for the week are filled, scheduling for that week will close. Appointments for the following weeks will be released as vaccines become available. Patients undergoing active cancer treatment should consult with their oncologist before scheduling a vaccine appointment. As vaccine supply allows, we look forward to expanding appointments to more groups, including those who are at increased risk of COVID-19 at work.

Second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are planned 3 to 4 weeks after the first doses for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, respectively. However, the state has directed as many patients as possible to receive the first dose in order to expand protection. As a result, there may be a lag period of days or weeks before patients can receive the second dose.

Only patients who have been notified by UC Davis Health are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Please do not call our clinics. Sign up to be notified when you're able to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

We are currently vaccinating patients at two locations:

• UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento
• UC Davis Health clinic in Roseville

In keeping with our outpatient clinic policy, only one essential caregiver or loved one may accompany patients. Patients and essential caregivers must wear face masks at all times during their appointment.

UC Davis Health is currently vaccinating patients age 65 and older, as well as our patients who work in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture. Patients need to schedule an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine. We are not accepting walk-ins. UC Davis Health patients will be notified through MyUCDavisHealth, by email, phone call or a letter when they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Only patients who have been notified by UC Davis Health can get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you haven't already, please sign up for MyUCDavisHealth, which is available on desktop or as an app on your mobile device.

The number of COVID-19 vaccines we get and when we get them is up to the state and federal government. The CDC and CDPH have directed that we must prioritize first vaccinations to give more people some level of protection. When there’s enough COVID-19 vaccine supply, we schedule appointments for second vaccine doses. Due to unpredictable vaccine supply, there’s a possibility your second dose could be delayed. MyUCDavisHealth is the easiest way to schedule an appointment and the fastest way to receive a notification if there's a change. If you do not have a MyUCDavisHealth account, please sign up.

While there’s a chance a second vaccine appointment could be delayed, you don’t have to worry, according to the CDC. Like with other vaccines, the second vaccination is a booster shot. This increases your level of protection by further teaching your body what the virus looks like, so it can respond quickly. As with other vaccinations, there’s no indication that a delay in receiving the booster shot reduces effectiveness. The timing of the second shot is not strictly critical. The CDC advises that you can receive the second COVID-19 vaccine up to 42 days (or 6 weeks) after the first dose.