Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines & Appointments

Our goal is to vaccinate everyone who wants to receive a vaccine. All individuals age 6 months and older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19.  Learn more >

All individuals age 6 months and older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Use the button below to schedule your appointment online. You’ll answer a series of questions about the patient's eligibility, pick a date and time and provide the patient's information.

Your second dose will be scheduled at your first vaccine appointment. Online scheduling is also available for third dose and booster appointments. Learn more >

Your second dose will be scheduled when you receive your first dose at a Atlantic Health System location. We recommend that your second dose is administered at the same vaccine center as the first. Your second vaccine dose will be from the same manufacturer as the first (i.e. Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech).

If you received your first dose elsewhere and would like to schedule a second dose appointment, please call 973-829-7940.

The Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall has been closed. See other locations >

Appointments are added regularly. Our goal is to provide a vaccine for everyone who wants it.

Check availability and make an appointment >

No, MyChart is not required to get a vaccine. After selecting an appointment time, patients have the option to log into MyChart or continue and schedule without logging in.

Make a vaccine appointment >

MyChart offers patients personalized and secure access to portions of their medical records. It provides convenient, 24-hour access to securely use the internet to help manage and receive information about a variety of health needs. However, vaccine appointment scheduling for the community is not available in MyChart.

MyChart is available to patients who have been treated within Atlantic Health System and their caregivers. In order to set up your MyChart account, we need to confirm your identity – either in person during a visit or by using a secure third-party verification system. Sign up or sign in >

Frequently Asked Questions >

Children, ages 6 months to 11 years old, can be vaccinated at certain physician practices with Atlantic Medical Group and Primary Care Partners. 

Most COVID-19 vaccines from Atlantic Health System for those over age 12 are administered at our vaccination centers. Schedule an appointment > 

Please speak to your pediatrician about what’s right for your child’s unique health circumstances prior to your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. If you don’t have a pediatrician, find one here >

Read what questions you will be asked at the vaccine appointment >

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens (CDC) > 

To maintain social distancing, we are only able to accommodate one parent or guardian during your child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment. When possible, please bring only the child (or children) being vaccinated.

We strongly encourage the parent or guardian to accompany your child to the vaccine center. If a parent or guardian cannot be at the appointment, another adult can accompany the child if the parent completes the required authorization forms. The child cannot be vaccinated unless both forms in step 2 below are signed. The parent or guardian must also be available by phone to speak to the nurse and provide additional information.

The following requirements are for minors not accompanied by a parent. The parent or guardian must:

1. Be available by phone to speak to a nurse during the appointment. Review the questions you’ll be asked >
2. Print, read and sign both of the following authorization forms and  send them with the child for the appointment.
   - Authorization for Non-Parent/Guardian to Accompany Minor for COVID-19 Vaccine >
   - General Hospital Consent for Treatment form >
3. Read the Emergency Use Authorization prior to the appointment >

Please bring a government-issued photo ID, student ID or birth certificate for the child if available. The parent, guardian or accompanying adult (see question above) must also bring their driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID. Vaccines will be distributed without regard to insurance or immigration status.

Patients ages 12 to 17 can set up a MyChart account with approval from their Atlantic Health System doctor. Learn more about MyChart >

For children age 11 and under, parents, legal guardians and caregivers can connect to their child’s health information. You’ll need to complete an authorization form and provide a government-issued photo ID to set this up. Once configured, you’ll log into your personal MyChart account to access your child’s records. Learn more>

Our pediatrician practices are best suited to accommodate children under age 11 who have special needs, anxiety, sensory issues or physical disabilities. A question during the scheduling process will guide you to appointments at these locations.

At this time, all adults and children over age 12 should be vaccinated at one of our community vaccine centers.

Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your child will receive the dose appropriate for his or her age at the time of the appointment. This means your child will receive the authorized vaccine dose for ages 5 to 11 at the first appointment, and the vaccine dose authorized for ages 12 to 17 at the second appointment. Our team will schedule the second appointment at your first dose appointment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people age 6 months and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster if eligible. An updated booster (bivalent) that targets the latest variants is available for individuals age 6 months and up.* This should be scheduled at least two months after the last booster or completing the initial vaccine series.  Learn more from the CDC >

Make an appointment >

Some moderately to severely immunocompromised people do not build enough immunity when they first get a vaccination. A third dose of the vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for those individuals to help them build more protection against COVID-19. For immunocompromised individuals, the third dose is needed to be considered fully vaccinated. Children age 6 months to 4 years old who receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine should also receive a third dose as part of their initial vaccine series to be considered fully vaccinated.

A booster dose is given when someone initially built enough protection after vaccination, but that protection decreased over time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are age five and older receive a booster COVID-19 vaccine.  Learn more > 

Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment >

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine (age 5 and up) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (age 18 and up) at least 28 days after their second dose. Please discuss your eligibility and whether you should receive the third dose with your doctor before scheduling your appointment. You'll also need to know whether you received Pfizer or Moderna for your first two doses. 

Children age 6 months to 4 years old who receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine should also receive a third dose as part of their initial vaccine series.

Make an appointment >

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive a 3rd dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (age 5 and up) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (age 18 and up) at least 28 days after their second dose. Please discuss your eligibility and whether you should receive the third dose with your doctor before scheduling your appointment. You'll also need to know whether you received Pfizer or Moderna for your first two doses. Get details and make an appointment online >

Please speak to your doctor about what’s right for your unique health circumstances. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, find one here >

You should have seen appointment instructions (e.g. what to bring) on your screen after clicking “schedule” if your appointment was scheduled successfully. If you entered a mobile number or email address during the scheduling process, you’ll also receive an email or text message confirmation with your appointment date and time. Be sure to check both your inbox and spam folder as sometimes emails might not appear in your inbox.

You can also use MyChart to confirm if you have successfully scheduled an appointment.  Sign In >
If you’re new to MyChart, click register to set up your account. You will be prompted to answer questions to verify your identity.
Register >             Learn More >

Once you’re logged into MyChart, click “Visits” in the menu. If you have an appointment, it will appear in the “Future Visits” section.

We will not be able to administer your vaccine if any of these conditions apply on the day of your appointment:

• If you have experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• If, within the past 14 days, you have been in close physical contact (six feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes) with someone who has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.
• If you are isolating or quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
• If you are currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test.

Please be sure to cancel your appointment if any of these conditions arise.

Use MyChart to cancel your appointment online. If you’re new to MyChart, click register to set up your account. You will be prompted to answer questions to verify your identity.
Sign In >                            Register >                         Learn More >

Once you’re logged into MyChart, click “Visits” in the menu. Then, select your vaccine appointment under the “Future Visits” section. Cancel on the “Appointment Details Screen.”

If you are signed up for appointment reminders and have not yet confirmed your appointment, reply CANCEL to the appointment confirmation text message you received.

If you had to cancel your first dose, third dose or booster appointment, please schedule a new appointment to receive the vaccine.

Make an appointment >

Your second dose will be scheduled when you receive your first dose at an Atlantic Health System location. If you need to reschedule, please use MyChart. Sign In >

If you’re new to MyChart, click register to set up your account. You will be prompted to answer questions to verify your identity.
Register >                         Learn More >

If a vaccination center has a delayed opening or closes due to severe weather, those with appointments will be notified. Patients with appointments at our centers will be contacted later to reschedule.

No, appointments are specific to the patient name used for scheduling. If you’re not able to make your appointment, please cancel and reschedule.

We offer vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech at our vaccine centers.

The vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, which use noninfectious, synthetic mRNA to produce antibodies that protect us from infection if we are exposed to the virus.

Physicians and scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration follow a rigorous regulatory review process to ensure the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which will be marketed as Comirnaty, has been FDA-approved for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. Learn more >

The approval process is underway for additional vaccines, which are available under Emergency Use Authorization. This includes the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and use of Pfizer-BioNTech for ages 6 months to 15 years old and the third dose for immunocompromised individuals.

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization and Fact Sheets (FDA) >
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorization and Fact Sheets (FDA) >

If you are disabled, elderly or otherwise require assistance, one person is permitted to accompany you. At most of our centers, anyone else interested in being vaccinated must schedule their own appointment.

MyChart is your secure connection to Atlantic Health System. Use it to manage your appointment, access your health records and check in online. MyChart eCheck-In allows you to update your personal information, verify and/or update your insurance coverage, upload a copy of your insurance card, update allergies and medications and complete your consent form before your appointment.

Sign In >                            Register >                         Learn More >

• Your driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID
• Your insurance card (if applicable)
• A mask to wear – and please also follow all social distancing and safety guidelines
• A copy of your appointment confirmation (print or electronic) 

Note that insurance is not required to get a vaccine and there will be no charges or copays to the vaccine recipient. However, as authorized, insurance providers will be billed for vaccine administration. Please wear comfortable clothing that can be adjusted so we can access your shoulder and upper arm to administer your COVID-19 vaccine.

Please check your confirmation to see where your appointment is scheduled. See a list of locations and their addresses >

Please arrive at the vaccine center 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to allow time for screening and registration. Please plan ahead — to ensure safety and orderly delivery of vaccines, your appointment will be canceled if you do not arrive within 15 minutes of the appointment time. 

Plan to stay 15-30 minutes after the vaccine is administered for observation.

Yes, all our vaccine centers are wheelchair accessible and fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Vaccines will be distributed without regard to insurance or immigration status. There will be no charges or copays to the vaccine recipient. However, as authorized, insurance providers will be billed for vaccine administration. For those without insurance, vaccination is free of charge. 

A side effect is any undesirable effect shown by studies to be caused by a medical intervention – including vaccines. Vaccines are designed to cause immune responses to enable your body to withstand a later infection. This means that one common side effect of vaccines are relatively mild, flu-like symptoms that go away without medical intervention within a few days. In rare cases, severe adverse reactions can also occur. Read the FDA’s fact sheet for each vaccine to understand the risks.

• What to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine (CDC) >
• Learn more about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (FDA) >
• Learn more about the Moderna vaccine (FDA) >

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer v-safe, a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. With this tool, you can easily share information about your side effects if you have any. You just need the vaccination record card you received after your first dose to register. If you are experiencing symptoms that are causing you concern, please contact your health care provider. Learn More >

Your COVID-19 vaccine will be administered into the central part of your deltoid muscle (upper arm) approximately two to three inches below your shoulder. Please wear comfortable clothing that can be adjusted so we can access your shoulder and upper arm to administer your COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes, follow preventive guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention like handwashing, physical distancing, and wearing a mask to protect yourself and others before and after vaccination. It takes as much as a few weeks for the immune system to respond effectively to the vaccine, and both doses are necessary for the vaccine to be fully effective. Even after you're fully vaccinated, preventative measures are still necessary to help protect the community.

It may still be possible for those who are vaccinated to become infected and to spread that infection to others without being symptomatic. 

As long as you received your first dose from us, we can verify that in our system and administer the second dose. However, we can’t replace lost  vaccination cards. You can use MyChart to print out a record of your vaccine administration or access your Digital Vaccine Card >

As an Atlantic Health System patient, you can access your digital vaccine card securely, anytime, anywhere. Use it when you need proof of COVID-19 vaccination, such as travel, camp, events or work. We can find your record if you received your COVID-19 vaccine at our centers, or we will search for it through the New Jersey Immunization Information System. Get your card now>

A MyChart account is required to access your Atlantic Health System digital vaccine card. Patients ages 12 to 17 can set up a MyChart account with approval from their Atlantic Health System doctor.

Parents, legal guardians and caregivers of children under age 11 can connect their personal MyChart account to their child’s health information. With this access configured, you’ll soon be able to use your MyChart login to access your child’s vaccine card. Learn more >

Learn more about vaccine cards >

iPhone or iPad

A MyChart account is required to set up a digital vaccine card. If you were treated within Atlantic Health System – whether at a medical center, doctor’s office or vaccine center – within the last three years or have an upcoming appointment you can access MyChart.

Here are the steps to set up an account:

1. Enter Your Info: Enter your name, address and other information to get started.
2. Confirm Your Identity: Answer questions through a secure third-party verification system from Experian™ to confirm you’re you.
3. Set Up Your Account: Once verified, we’ll prompt you to create your account.
4. Create Your Digital Vaccine Card: Return to atlantichealth.org/vaccinecard and enter your MyChart username and password to get your card.

MyChart and the Atlantic Health System digital vaccine card are free services offered to Atlantic Health System patients.

If you were treated within Atlantic Health System – whether at a medical center, doctor’s office or vaccine center - you can access MyChart and create a digital vaccine card.

You can view information about your completed COVID-19 vaccination appointment using MyChart. Available information includes the date the vaccine was administered, the name of the vaccine and the location where the vaccine was administered.

Sign In >                            Register >                         Learn more about MyChart >

Log into your MyChart account using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari for Mac. On the MyChart home page, click “Menu,” scroll down to the “My Records” section and click the “COVID-19” button. This page displays information about your COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. Click the down arrow symbol to the right of a section to get more information.

If you need to show proof of vaccination, both MyChart and your digital vaccine card can show the COVID-19 vaccines administered by Atlantic Health System as well as additional records found through the New Jersey Immunization Information System (like a vaccine you received at another New Jersey location).

To search for additional records in MyChart, log in and open the menu. Scroll down to the My Record section and select COVID-19. Then, expand the section showing your vaccination status and click "Update." Learn more >

If you forgot your username, submit a request to recover your MyChart username >
After verifying your information, we’ll send your username to the email address on file for your account.

If you forgot your password, submit a MyChart password reset request >
After entering your information, you will be prompted with the password security question you entered when first creating your account. After correctly answering this question, you'll be able to create a new password. Once your password is set up, please return to this page to access your digital vaccine card.

Reasons this could occur and what to do:

• You were vaccinated in the last two days: It can take up to 48 hours after vaccination for the data to be updated. Please try again after 48 hours have passed.
• The New Jersey Immunization Information System does not have your information: When you were vaccinated, you may have opted out of sharing your vaccination data, or it’s possible your vaccine provider did not share your record. Please contact your vaccine provider to request your record of immunization be shared with the New Jersey Immunization Information System.
• You were vaccinated outside of New Jersey: We are not able to access your vaccine information if you were vaccinated outside of New Jersey.

Please call 1-800-205-9911 to speak to MyChart technical support or request assistance through our form and a representative will contact you. Submit a request >

If you currently getting treatment at one of our hospitals or are a patient of Atlantic Medical Group, Primary Care Partners or Atlantic Health Partners, ask our team the next time you come in. We can update your electronic medical record using your government-issued identification. If you are not a patient of Atlantic Health System, please visit the state website >
Scroll down to the second item under the “Operations” heading and click the link to submit a change to your personal information.
 

If you were vaccinated outside of New Jersey, we’re not able to access your vaccine information though the New Jersey Immunization Information System.

Managed by the New Jersey Department of Health, the New Jersey Immunization Information System collects and consolidates vaccination data for New Jersey’s children, adolescents, and adults. It has been used to consolidate information from all health care providers into one official record since 1997. Learn more >

We take great care to ensure your medical information is kept private and secure. Access to information is controlled through secure activation codes, personal usernames and passwords. Each person controls their password, and the account cannot be accessed without that password.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have a printed manufacture date on the vial. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines expire 18 months after manufacture. Moderna COVID-19 vaccines expire 12 months after manufacture.