The Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments recommend making an appointment to get vaccinated. Walk-in appointments are available on a limited basis but cannot be guaranteed.

To schedule a vaccination appointment, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health scheduling site or call (888) 457-0186.

When preparing for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please remember to bring:

• Proof of employment, if applicable to your category (for example, your health facility ID card if you are a healthcare worker)
• Insurance card, if you are insured. The vaccine is available at no cost, whether you have health insurance or not. You will not be charged for your vaccination, nor will your insurance company charge you later
  • If you have health insurance, your insurance provider may be billed for some of the costs related to administration fees for giving the shot, but none of this will be billed back to you.
• Identification, if applicable to your vaccination group, and to help ensure that vaccines allotted to Gwinnett County go to Georgia residents
  • An ID is not required to get the vaccine. If you don’t have an ID, you can bring any piece of postmarked mail that includes your name and Georgia address
• Appointment confirmation email
• A mask to wear while you are at the vaccination site
• Someone to assist you, if needed
• Personal mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, canes, etc., if needed
• Vaccinations are given in the upper arm. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that will allow easy access to your upper arm.

• Remember: masks are required at the vaccination site.
• If you have scheduled an appointment through the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments, the process will go as follows:
  • Please stay in your car until 10 minutes before your appointment time. A team member will confirm your appointment before allowing you inside the vaccination site. If you do not have an appointment, you will not be able to receive a vaccine. Walk-ins are not currently allowed.
  • If you have health insurance, please have your insurance card, as well as a form of ID, ready at check-in. However, please note that health insurance is not required to be vaccinated. There is no charge for your vaccine. Insurance will be filed, if available, but will not result in a charge to you.
    • Remember, the vaccine is available at no cost, whether you have health insurance or not.
    • If you have health insurance, your insurance provider may be billed for some of the costs related to administration fees for giving the shot, but none of this will be billed back to you.
  • After you’ve received your vaccine, you will wait in an observation area for 15-30 minutes before checking out, at which point you will be able to make your second dose appointment.
• For more information on scheduling a vaccine and the process, please visit the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments website.

The currently approved Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require individuals to return for a second dose, which increases the vaccines’ effectiveness, a few weeks after receiving the first dose.

According to the CDC, you do not need to have the second dose at the exact interval recommended by the vaccine manufacturer. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first vaccine dose. Data on the efficacy of second-dose vaccines administered more than 6 weeks after the first dose are limited. If a person receives their second dose more than 6 weeks after the first dose, there is no need to restart the series.

If you schedule your vaccination appointment through the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments, you will be able to make your second vaccine appointment at the vaccination site when you check in for your first dose.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine reaches full effectiveness 28 days after vaccination. More vaccines are nearing emergency approval by the FDA, some of which may only require one dose.

It is highly recommended that you make every possible effort to attend your vaccine appointment. Most vaccination sites are not able to reschedule missed appointments or appointments that are set at an inconvenient time. If you miss an appointment or want to reschedule, you will need to make another appointment.