COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Laguna Beach Residents

To shorten the wait times and quickly assist callers, the HCA Hotline at (714) 834-2000 now offers automated responses to frequently asked questions.

Weather-Related Delays Affect Local Vaccine Delivery

Severe weather across the country has delayed delivery of COVID-19 vaccine supplies across the State of California, including to Orange County. The Disneyland Resort Super POD site will close temporarily, due to a lack of vaccine supply.

The CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Second Dose Guidelines advise the second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible (3 weeks for Pfizer-BioNTech, and one month for Moderna). However, the CDC’s guidance allows for second dose administration up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval. The CDC is not advocating for people to delay getting their second dose, but the data from clinical trials support that it is still effective in the delayed range. #OCCOVID19 

County Super PODs are not the only option to receive a vaccination

Other healthcare providers approved to dispense the vaccine, including hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics, play an essential role in vaccinating Orange County’s population. The following retailers offer vaccine appointments near Laguna Beach:

• CVS
•  Rite Aid
•  Walgreens

Who can get the COVID-19 Vaccine right now in Orange County?

Right now, the vaccine is available to individuals 65 years and older or individuals that fall within Phase 1A of the County’s vaccine tier framework. Those eligible must register to make an appointment at www.Othena.com and live or work within Orange County.

I registered, but do not have a vaccine appointment yet. How will I be notified when appointments are open?

Once registered in Othena, appointment notifications to those in the "digital waiting room" will be prioritized based on factors including age, time of registration, and available vaccine supply. Eligible, registered individuals will receive appointment notification via email from Othena.com. They will then have up to four hours to confirm a date and time that works with their schedule. If they do not respond in the time allotted, they will go back into the queue to receive notification of future openings.

After I receive my first dose, how do I get my second? 

Appointments for the second dose are scheduled automatically at the same time and location of the first appointment. This date is either 21 days (Pfizer) or 28 days (Moderna) out, depending on the vaccine. You can reschedule in Othena no earlier than 5 days prior to their next appointment by going to the home page, clicking on View Details under your second appointment information; click on View Your Appointment at the bottom of the next screen; and then scroll down and press the Reschedule Appointment button.

 

Effective 2/24/21, everyone who received their first dose of the Moderna CV-19 vaccine at Disneyland will receive their second dose at the Anaheim Convention Center Super POD site at the same date and time as originally scheduled.

• The Disneyland Super POD site will continue dispensing first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
• Please log in to Othena.com or check your profile on the Othena app for more information.
• Eligible users will receive email and app notifications to schedule appointments based on the time and date of registration. Please check your registered email address or Othena app profile daily, as well as your spam folder..

Can I choose where I receive my vaccine with Othena?

Othena is currently scheduling vaccination appointments at all Super POD sites. Registered, eligible users will automatically receive notifications via email and through the Othena app as appointments become available. Users may not have the option of choosing which site to attend, depending on the availability of the vaccine when the appointment is scheduled.

How will I know it is time to schedule my appointment?

For your first appointment, Othena will notify you via email and the Othena app when it is time to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Follow the steps to select an available date and time at a predetermined location.

Vaccines are only released a few days from the current date. If your desired location is not listed on that date, check back later. If there is no time to select from, then there are no appointments available to be scheduled.

What is California's "My Turn" Vaccine Registration and Scheduling Platform?

The State‘s “My Turn“ platform is unrelated to Othena, the County of Orange’s registration and scheduling platform for COVID-19 vaccinations. My Turn is currently available only in pilot areas; it may be expanded to other areas soon. Check the My Turn website for availability.

The County’s Othena platform interfaces with the California Immunization Registry (CAIR) to report vaccine information. The County continues to register eligible individuals and schedule appointments through the Othena system. More than 484,000 people are currently registered and over 79,000 people have received a vaccination through Othena.

I'm eligible and have tried to make an appointment on the Othena site but it won’t let me in.

Due to overwhelming response, the Othena site may not allow you to make an appointment. We understand this is frustrating and ask for your patience. Our best advice is to check the site often, and register to get an email letting you know when there are appointments available.

Once I get a vaccine appointment at the Super POD site, what do I bring with me?

Everyone who wants to be vaccinated MUST provide documentation indicating they are in the active vaccination Tier categories. Those who do not bring adequate documentation will be asked to reschedule at a later date when they can provide the necessary information. Documentation includes Photo ID AND any of the following:

• Professional license
• Employee badge with name
• Signed letter from employer on facility letterhead
• Payment stub with printed name

Once you make an appointment through Othena.com you will be instructed on what specific documents to bring with you depending on the Tier.

My Tier is not being vaccinated yet, but the Othena site let me in and I can make an appointment. Should I make an appointment and show up anyway even though I am not in the current vaccine Tier?

No. The success of the County’s phased, tiered vaccination plan depends on everyone being patient and allowing priority groups to be vaccinated first. Overwhelming the appointment system will make it even more challenging to dispense the limited supply of the vaccine currently available. As the vaccine becomes more plentiful, additional appointments will become available, and eligibility will open up to your group.

Can I just show up at Disneyland or Soka University without an appointment and get in line for a COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Please be patient. Individuals must have an appointment and must show identification and documentation of Tier eligibility at the site to receive a vaccination.

I was not able to get an appointment through Othena. Can I just go to a County Super Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site to get vaccinated?

Please do not go to a Super POD site without an appointment at the end of the day hoping to get an “extra” dose at the end of the shift. There is no vaccine waste at the end of the shift, and there are no doses available to the general public.

Are there other places to get vaccinated closer to my home besides these large Super POD sites?

Individuals 65 years of age or older have the option of getting vaccinated at a Super POD site or at alternate sites specifically targeting this population. We anticipate more information about senior outreach and these senior-friendly locations will be available soon.

What about traditional healthcare providers who are also approved to dispense the COVID-19 vaccine, including health systems and medical clinics?

These non-County healthcare providers play an essential role in vaccinating the population of Orange County. The large Multi-County Entity (MCE) hospitals, health systems, and pharmacies receive their vaccine allocation directly from the State. The smaller hospital systems, medical groups, and community clinics receive their vaccine allocation through the County.

I've heard that some pharmacies and clinics in Laguna Beach may become distribution centers for the vaccine. Is that true?

While smaller, local clinics may be set up at some point in the future, that is currently not part of the County’s plan and those eligible are encouraged to make an appointment for vaccination at the Super POD sites.

I can't find clear information about who is being vaccinated when. How will I know when my Tier is called to be vaccinated and I am able to make an appointment?

Most of those eligible to be vaccinated will be contacted through their employer. Others who are eligible should continue to watch for announcements through the City of Laguna Beach Community Newsletter, the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) website, social media, and the news.

Why can’t everyone just be vaccinated now?

Vaccines are being given to the public in a phased, tiered approach to ensure those most at risk from COVID-19 are vaccinated first. Please remain patient and wait for your tier group for vaccination. Click here to view a list of Tiers of individuals and estimated timeline for vaccination.

Which vaccine is being offered at Super Pod Sites?

The County is currently dispensing Moderna vaccines at all Super POD sites. The required 2nd dose for individuals must be the same vaccine (e.g. both 1st and 2nd dose should be Moderna vaccine.) Click here to learn more about vaccine safety.

How can I volunteer to help?

In anticipation of future needs, our Virtual Emergency Volunteer Center (EVC) is currently pre-registering volunteers interested in assisting government staff with COVID-19 vaccinations at Points of Distribution (POD) sites this year. The County of Orange is looking to establish two teams of volunteers willing to serve as Medical Trained Volunteers and General Support Volunteers. Click here for a flyer with more information. If you're interested, please click here to register.

Whom can I call for questions about the vaccine and Othena?

The HCA Hotline at 714-834-2000 is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for questions related to Othena and vaccine-related issues. Please note that the hotline cannot make reservations or Othena registrations at this time.