First and Second Doses
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized or even dying from the coronavirus. As with other diseases, you are protected best from COVID-19 when you stay up to date with the recommended vaccines.
The vaccine is available for free through the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment's Olathe and Mission walk-in immunization clinics, as well as local healthcare systems, clinics and pharmacies.
Who can get a first and second dose of the vaccine?
CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone ages six months and older.
A parent or guardian must sign the vaccine consent form (English or Spanish) for any child under the age of 18:
Children age 15 and younger receiving a COVID-19 vaccination must be accompanied by an adult. A parent or guardian is preferable. However, the parent/guardian may designate a non-parent adult on the consent form to be present at the time of vaccination if they are unavailable.
Where can I get these vaccine doses?
JCDHE's Walk-In Vaccination Clinics
First and second doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines are available from JCDHE (dependent upon vaccine availability). The primary vaccination series are available for free at our walk-in vaccination clinics in Olathe and Mission.
Our walk-in clinic wait times vary. Please visit vaccines.gov to locate alternative COVID-19 vaccine providers. If you have private insurance or Medicaid, you may call the phone number located on the back of your insurance card for in-network providers.
Additional Vaccination Locations
These doses of the vaccine are also available through health systems and pharmacies. Find a vaccine near you using Vaccine Finder or Vacunas (Spanish). You can also text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) in English, or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489).
Health Partnership Clinic in Olathe offers the COVID-19 primary series and booster doses for adults and children.
Getting your second dose of the vaccine
Your second dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is due on or after the due date on the back of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. You should receive all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the most protection.
Bring your vaccination record card and a new printed and signed COVID-19 vaccine consent form to your second dose appointment.
Ideally, you want to get the second dose within a few days of the due date, but current CDC recommendations say you can get the second dose up to 42 days after your first dose.
If you cannot get vaccinated during that time frame, get the second dose at your earliest convenience so you are fully protected. You will not be required to restart the vaccine series no matter the length of time between the first and second dose.
Post-Vaccine Health Checker
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. V-safe cannot schedule vaccine appointments, including second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
Lost your vaccination record card?
If you received your COVID-19 vaccination from JCDHE, you can complete this form (English or Spanish) and return it to JCDHE via email, fax or regular mail. For medical record questions, email [email protected].
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine from another provider (i.e., doctor's office, pharmacy, out of state provider), please contact them directly for a copy of your records. JCDHE only has vaccination records for people who received their COVID-19 vaccine(s) at a JCDHE clinic.
How can children ages six months and older get vaccinated?
Why should I get my kids vaccinated?
Most cases of COVID-19 in children are not severe, but on occasion, it can cause serious infections that require hospitalization. In rare instances, it can be life-threatening to children.
The Food and Drug Administration found that the vaccine was very effective at preventing symptomatic illness in kids and there were no serious safety concerns. Once vaccinated, they will be at lower risk for COVID-19 infection and the long-term effects from COVID-19 such as MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes), which often requires intensive care at the hospital, or “long COVID,” in which symptoms can linger for months.
We also know that children can spread COVID to others if they get infected. That’s particularly a worry when they are around higher-risk groups, like grandparents, other family members or caregivers who may have medical conditions.
Vaccination will also help reduce some of the anxiety that children and adults have been feeling during the pandemic, as we can feel more reassured having this critical level of protection.
When can my child get the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC approved the recommendations for the pediatric Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccine, so those who are eligible can get vaccinated from any authorized provider.
Where can I get a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for my child?
There is plenty of pediatric COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States, so you can get your child vaccinated at any location that is convenient for you. Contact your child’s healthcare provider or search for a nearby vaccine provider by visiting vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.
The primary COVID-19 vaccination series and booster doses are available at JCDHE's walk-in vaccination clinics in Olathe or Mission.
Health Partnership Clinic in Olathe offers the COVID-19 primary series and booster doses for adults and children.
Do I need an appointment for a pediatric vaccine?
We recommend you reach out to your preferred vaccine provider and ask if an appointment is necessary. JCDHE’s walk-in vaccination clinics in Olathe and Mission do not require appointments and is walk-in only.
How many doses of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine are needed to be fully vaccinated?
The CDC recommends all children ages six months to 17 years of age complete the full vaccination series, including boosters (if eligible), to be fully protected from the coronavirus.
Children will be given a COVID-19 Vaccination Record card with the doses and dates noted.
Is the pediatric vaccine different than the vaccine approved for those age 12 and older?
The Pfizer pediatric formulations for children are different from the Pfizer formulation for those age 12 and older.
The Moderna pediatric ingredients are the same for children, but the packaging is different.
What items do I need to bring with me to my vaccination appointment?
If you are getting vaccinated at a JCDHE clinic, you need to bring a completed and signed vaccine consent form (all doses) and the child's COVID-19 vaccination record card (second/booster doses only).
If you don’t have access to a printer, you can complete the vaccine consent form at the clinic. A parent or guardian must sign the vaccine consent form for any child under the age of 18.
Children ages 15 and younger receiving a COVID-19 vaccination must be accompanied by an adult. A parent or guardian is preferable. However, the parent or guardian may designate a non-parent adult on the consent form to be present at the time of vaccination if they are unavailable.
Is the vaccine safe and effective for children?
Yes. Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials with thousands of children to establish the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.
Millions of children and teens ages five through 17 years have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Ongoing safety monitoring shows that the known risks and possible severe complications of COVID-19 outweigh the potential risks of having a rare, adverse reaction to vaccination.
Reported side effects tend to be mild, temporary, and like those experienced after routine vaccination. Serious reactions after COVID-19 vaccination in children are rare. When they are reported, serious reactions most frequently occur within a few days after vaccination.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine safety.
Can children get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?
Yes. Like with adults, it is safe to give children ages 6 months and older the influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
What age is my child eligible for a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine?
Children 6 months of age and older are eligible for the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization. Children ages 12 and older are eligible for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization.
Find more information about CDC’s pediatric vaccination recommendation.
What side effects will children experience from the COVID-19 vaccine?
Common side effects of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine are similar to what people 12 and older may experience: a sore arm where the shot was given, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain.
Children three years and younger may experience pain where the shot is given, swollen lymph nodes, irritability/crying, sleepiness or loss of appetite.
Most of these side effects go away in 1-2 days.
If my child already had COVID-19, do they still need to get vaccinated?
Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after having been infected with COVID-19. So, even if a child has had COVID-19, they should still get vaccinated. For children who have been infected with COVID-19, their next dose can be delayed three months from when symptoms started or, if they did not have symptoms, when they received a positive test result.