There are three key phases leading up to limited use and full use approval for a vaccine. According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), they are as follows:

Phase 1 – Vaccines are administered by scientists to 20 to 100 healthy volunteers. Researchers answer questions related to how the drug works in the body, the side effects associated with increased dosage, and early information about how effective it is to determine and how best to administer the drug to limit risks and maximize possible benefits.

Phase 2 – Vaccines are administered by scientists to several hundred volunteers. Phase 2 studies provide researchers with additional safety data. Researchers use these data to refine research questions, develop research methods, and design new Phase 3 research protocols.

Phase 3 – Vaccines are administered by scientists to hundreds or thousands of volunteers. Phase 3 studies provide most of the safety data. In previous studies, it is possible that less-common side effects might have gone undetected. Because these studies are larger and longer in duration, the results are more likely to show long-term or rare side effects.

FDA licenses a vaccine only if it is successful in each of the three phases, is safe and effective, and benefits outweigh risks.

As of February 1, 2021, there are 67 vaccines in clinical trials on humans. Currently, there are 20 vaccine trials that have reached the final stages of testing, according to the New York Times Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker.

In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for two COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered in the U.S. – the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and Moderna, Inc. vaccine. In addition, in late February the FDA approved a third vaccine, this one developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson.

Beginning April 6, San Bernardino County officials have announced that every County resident aged 16 and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The decision means thousands of additional residents may now schedule an appointment to receive one of the three FDA-approved vaccines.

Register at MyTurn to find out if you are eligible for vaccination and to be notified when you are eligible.

Because COVID-19 is a new disease with new vaccines, you may have questions about what happens before, during, and after your appointment to get vaccinated. The CDC has compiled tips that will help you know what to expect when you get vaccinated, what information your provider will give you, and resources you can use to monitor your health after you are vaccinated.

There is no “priority list.” To find out which groups are currently eligible to receive a vaccine, please check here.

The State is providing prioritization and allocation guidance to local health jurisdictions and health care providers so that the vaccine can be equitably distributed and administered at the community level to everyone in California who wants it. San Bernardino County has been receiving shipments of vaccine doses as they become available.

There are three primary distribution methods of the vaccine: 1) Direct shipments to providers; 2) Department of Public Health and Office of Emergency Services distribution; and 3) Skilled nursing facilities/long term care facilities in partnership with CVS/Walgreens.

The County of San Bernardino’s Department of Public Health has an agreement with the State and the CDC to redistribute the vaccines to COVIDReadi-registered facilities that agree and attest to state rules. Vaccines are redistributed based on the phased approach outlined by the California Department of Public Health. Redistribution consists of storing the vaccines and transferring the chain of custody to approved facilities. Once custody is relinquished by the County, the facilities that received the vaccines assume responsibility to manage their vaccine inventory in accordance with CDPH guidelines.

The County of San Bernardino prepared a Standard Operating Guide to address and guide its response to the COVID-19 vaccination process, which includes a plan for inspections of vaccine shipping containers within five minutes of receipt as well as storage protocols. Important to note is that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires ultra-cold freezer refrigeration. The Moderna Inc. vaccine requires standard freezer refrigeration. The County and transport partners are prepared to handle these cold storage requirements.

The County actively engages the San Bernardino County Vaccination Task Force to ensure thorough vaccination planning and preparation is taking place throughout the vaccination process.

No. The CDC is responsible for distributing the vaccines and determines how many doses each state receives based on the size of the state.

More vaccines are expected to be approved by the FDA in 2021 that will increase the availability for more segments of the population. The County’s Vaccination Task Force is working diligently to ensure that there are no delays in procuring vaccinations for its residents.

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for evaluating the efficacy and safety of drugs, including vaccines. Vaccines undergo a rigorous review of laboratory, clinical and manufacturing data to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and quality.

On December 11, 2020, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. On December 18, 2020, the FDA issued an EUA for the use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. And on February 27, 2021 the FDA issued an EUA for the use of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (also referred to as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). The issuance of an EUA is different than an FDA approval (licensure) of a vaccine.

Like all COVID-19 vaccines, this vaccine has been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use given the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the fact sheet to learn more about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and risks. (español)

The first two approved vaccines — those produced by Pfizer and Moderna — are what are called “Messenger RNA vaccines” or simply “mRNA vaccines.”

mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine that teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. For more information on how the mRNA vaccines work, please check the CDC website.

The recently approved vaccine from Janssen Pharmaceuticals (aka the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) takes a different approach. Rather than using mRNA, it’s what’s called an adenovirus vector vaccine. It employs a harmless cold virus to deliver a gene that carries the blueprint for the spiky protein found on the surface of the coronavirus. The virus enters cells, which then follow the genetic instructions to construct a replica of the coronavirus spike. The immune system uses these replicas to recognize — and respond to — the real thing. You can review this fact sheet for more detailed information on the Janssen Pharmaceutical vaccine.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine require two doses to provide maximum benefit. The second doses should be administered 21 days following the first Pfizer shot and 28 days after the first Moderna shot. The new Janssen Pharmaceutical (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine only requires a single shot.

Currently, the vaccines are being administered by the County Department of Public Health, as well as a variety of community health partners such as State OptumServe sites, hospitals, pharmacies and physician practices. For more information, please check our County vaccination appointments page.

There are a variety of vaccination sites, including mobile sites, being operated by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. Some sites are exclusively for residents receiving their second dose of a vaccine. In addition, numerous other providers (e.g., hospitals, pharmacies and physician practices) offer vaccinations.

Currently, all vaccination sites require scheduling an appointment. To learn more, and to schedule an appointment (if eligible), please visit the County COVID-19 vaccination appointments page.

Currently, people may not have a choice of which vaccine they can take as the availability of doses is very limited.

There is currently no requirement for people to get a COVID-19 vaccination. This is an individual’s choice to help protect themselves from contracting COVID-19 and helping stop the spread of the virus.

There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19. As more data is collected, this information will be updated to reflect the latest scientific findings.

Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask and staying at least 6 feet away from others, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued its first set of recommendations that now allow people who are fully vaccinated to gather with each other without masks. This new guidance—which is based on the latest science — includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated individual can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated and with other people who are not vaccinated. CDC will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated and additional scientific evidence becomes available.

Experts remain unsure how well the approved vaccines reduce transmission of the virus, or how long the protection lasts. CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people continue to wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.

Some people experience side effects from vaccines, and the COVID-19 vaccines are no different. Most people experience relatively minor pain or swelling at the injection site; in rare cases some also experience fever, chills, fatigue or a headache for one or two days. It is not uncommon for side effects to be somewhat more common following a second dose. For more information on what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the CDC page on the subject.

Health authorities need this information to help you stay safe and healthy. The CDC is implementing a new smartphone-based tool called V-SAFE to check-in on people’s health after they receive a COVID-19 vaccine. When you receive your vaccine, you should also receive a V-SAFE information sheet telling you how to enroll in V-SAFE. If you enroll, you will receive regular text messages directing you to surveys where you can report any problems or adverse reactions you have after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.