What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and following the 3 Ws (wear, wait, wash) are our best protections against COVID-19. We want you to have all the information you need when it comes to this vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for all adults in North Carolina.
COVID-19 vaccines are up to 95% effective against the virus.1
The vaccines are based on years of research and are safe and effective.
The vaccines are FDA approved using Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
Schedule Your Appointment in NC
Not an NC resident? Find locations in your state.
Here's what's covered for members
- The vaccine will be available at no cost for all members
- After the public health emergency, we will cover the vaccine as preventative care for in-network providers - so you'll be covered now and in the future
Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Pharmacies (like Walmart and Walgreens), hospitals, health clinics, and some resource centers are offering vaccines. That means, you can get your shot where you feel most comfortable. Use the tools below to know where to go when you're ready!
Not a North Carolina resident?
Your state may have different eligibility groups or phases. You can use the tool below to find your state health department's COVID-19 vaccine groups. Or use the tool to find vaccine locations in your state.
Tips for finding a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Ready to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Getting the vaccine is as easy as...
1
Schedule your appointment
If you're eligible to get your shot now, you can use the tool below to find locations near you to get vaccinated.
2
Get your COVID-19 vaccine
Where you go to get your shot will determine which vaccine you get. Some vaccines require two doses while others only need one.
3
Continue safety precautions
It takes time for your body to build an immunity to COVID-19. Wait at least two weeks after your dose(s).
I've had my COVID-19 vaccine. What now?2
We know you're ready to get back to doing the things you love. We are too! But it's important to keep yourself and those around you protected.
You may experience side effects
Minor side effects are common with most vaccines. It means it's working! Most side effects go away within a day or two after your shot.
Common side effects:
- Pain, redness or swelling in your arm
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
When am I fully vaccinated?
The CDC considers people fully vaccinated two weeks after their last dose of the vaccine.
If it's been less than two weeks or you still need your second shot, you aren't protected and can still get sick!
According to the CDC, if you're fully vaccinated:
- You can get together indoors with others who are vaccinated without wearing a mask
- You can be indoors without a mask with unvaccinated people from one other household - like family and friends - as long as they aren't high-risk
- You do not need to quarantine or get tested if you've been exposed to COVID-19 unless you are showing symptoms or live in a group setting
- You can start to do more of the things you may have stopped - like going to the grocery store
- You can travel in the US without getting tested before or quarantining after
- You do not need to self-quarantine when coming back to the US after traveling internationally
- Continue following the 3Ws while in public - wear a mask, wash your hands, wait 6 feet apart
- Continue following your work safety protocols and public guidelines
- You can gather and have activities outdoors without wearing a mask except in crowded settings
- Don't gather in medium or large groups, crowds or gatherings
- Don't visit an unvaccinated person who is at high-risk of getting sick
- Don't ignore symptoms of COVID-19. Always get tested if you're experiencing symptoms
The CDC is still learning how the vaccine protects you against new strains of the virus, how long your immunity will last and if you can still pass the virus to unvaccinated people. That's why it's important to continue following the 3Ws when you're in public or around others you don't live with.
Personal Stories from Your Neighbors
You have a spot. Get your shot.
Like so many of your neighbors already have. Learn why they chose to get vaccinated through their personal stories below.
Stories from our community and yours
“There is a before and after COVID for me. I was infected by COVID, and it was some of the worst days of my life. As a single mother, I could not take care of myself and my five children. I had to separate from them for more than a month, and being the pillar of my home, I can’t go through the same thing again. I need to be healthy to provide what is necessary for them."
- Mary, Raleigh
“My aunt is a high-risk person, and she’s worked so hard as a school custodian throughout the entire pandemic, so I’ve been worried about her. I’m a high school teacher and am around kids all day, so there’s this fear of me having COVID-19 and not knowing it and spreading it to her or to one of the kids.”
- Terrance, Apex
“I think it’s sort of a public health duty to get the vaccine. It’s less about me personally and more about others who are more vulnerable. I want to be free to spend time with people that I love and not be anxious about it. I want my family to feel comfortable visiting. They usually come a couple times a year, but they didn’t this past year.”
- Anne, Apex
Blue Connect