Second doses

After receiving your first dose of vaccine, you need a second dose for full effectiveness.

An appointment for the second dose may have been made for you at your first dose visit. If not, you will need to schedule a second dose or visit us as a walk-in. 

Appointments for second doses must be on or after your due date: 21 (Pfizer) or 28 (Moderna) days after your first dose.  

Choose one:

MyChart

Log in to your MyChart account and click on “My Visits” to see your appointment or create a new one.

If you did not set up a MyChart account before your first dose, you still can. After creating an account, follow the instructions above to reschedule your second dose.

Walk-in

If you do not wish to set up a MyChart account, you may drop into any Salem Health vaccination location on or after your second dose due date. Be sure to bring the vaccine card you received with your first dose. (To see the locations and their hours, click on "Appointments and locations" above.)

Returning for a second dose is your responsibility — we will not send you reminders if you do not have a MyChart account. Drop-in availability is limited, and we cannot guarantee that we will have a vaccine for you if you do not have an appointment. Check our website for the hours of each location as they do vary week to week.

Don't forget to sign up for the CDC's V-safe program to track side effects.

Third doses

Following the recommendations of the CDC, Salem Health offers third doses of vaccine to people with compromised immune systems.

This group includes those who:

• Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the past two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Are receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune response

Contact your primary care provider to confirm a third dose is right for you before scheduling your appointment.

Note: If you were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are not eligible for additional doses at this time.

Questions?

Click on Vaccine Clinic FAQs at the top of this page or check our COVID-19 information page.

First doses

Q: Can I schedule a first dose for someone else?

Yes. Just be sure to use their information (personal details) and not your own in the form. This ensures we know who is getting the dose.

Second doses

Q: What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment? 

I signed up using MyChart: Log in to your MyChart account and follow these instructions. 

I signed up as a guest and don’t have a MyChart account: Because you signed up as a guest, you’ll need to create a MyChart account to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Instructions can be found here. If you choose not to create an account, there is no official way to cancel. Simply skip your appointment and come as a walk-in on a day and time that works for you.

Q: How do I know what date to come for my second dose?

Pfizer: Manufacturer recommends 21 days after first dose.

Moderna: Manufacturer recommends 28 days after first dose.

The date for your second dose is recorded on your vaccination card and on your MyChart account if you have one. If you’ve lost your card or have information missing, check MyChart or call our help line at 503-814-SHOT (7468).

Q: I was told that I could come in a few days earlier than the manufacturer recommended date.

This rule has changed over time. We ask that you come for your second dose on or after your due date.  If you can’t come in on the return date assigned to you, please reschedule or drop in as soon as possible after that date.

Q: What happens if the vaccine clinic is closed or I cannot come on the due date on my vaccine card?

We ask that you make every effort possible to return for your second dose on the manufacturer recommended date — 21 days for Pfizer and 28 days for Moderna. If the clinic where you got the first shot is closed, you may visit a different Salem Health clinic.

Q: What if I don’t know which vaccine I received?

This should be recorded on your vaccination card. If you use MyChart, you will be able to see it there as well. We will also look up this information when you return for your second dose to verify that the information is correct.

Q: How will I know if you have the brand of vaccine I need on the day I show up?

If you show up on or close to your 21/28 day window, there should be no concern that we will have second doses from both manufacturers.

Q: Can I get Pfizer for my second dose if I had Moderna for my first dose?

No. Your second dose must be from the same manufacturer as the first dose.

Third doses

Q: Will I need a booster shot after my second COVID-19 vaccination?

As of Aug. 16, 2021, people with compromised immune systems are eligible for a third dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Click on “Second and third dose scheduling” above for more information.

Vaccination cards

Q: What if I lost my vaccination card?

We save all the information from your vaccination card. If you lose your vaccination card, we can issue you a replacement at any Salem Health Medical Clinic. Talk to your primary care provider, call the clinic or stop by.

Q: It looks like my vaccination card wasn’t filled out (or was filled out incorrectly) when I got my vaccine. How do I get my vaccination card filled out?

Bring your card, even if it wasn’t filled out. It is important to get both doses recorded on the same card. We save all this information and can complete (or correct) your card next time we see you.

Vaccine clinic operations

Q: Is the vaccine clinic open today?

Check our website to see if the clinic is open and to schedule an appointment: www.salemhealth.org/covid-vaccine.

Q: If I drop in to the clinic without an appointment, am I guaranteed to get a vaccine?

Not necessarily. We will make every effort to ensure that you are vaccinated. But because supplies are limited and change daily, you may be turned away if all of that day's vaccines are reserved for people with appointments.

Q: Do I have to pay for the vaccine out of pocket if I don’t have insurance?

No. We ask that you bring your insurance card if you have health insurance.  If you are uninsured, you will not be charged.

Q: What can I do to help make sure everyone gets vaccinated?

Visit our Vaccine Team page for ways you can help friends and family members sign up for vaccine. We hope to update it often as more resources become available.