First-dose Appointment
In order to be vaccinated, you will need to show:
- Driver's license or photo ID that includes your date of birth, and
- Pepperdine University ID card
Please ensure all appointment forms are completed before your arrival by logging in to your Patient Portal.
Second-dose or Booster Shot Appointment
In order to be vaccinated, you will need to show:
- Driver's license or photo ID that includes your date of birth, and
- Pepperdine University ID card, and
- Your white CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card (you received this at your first-dose appointment)
Please ensure all appointment forms are completed before your arrival by logging in to your Patient Portal.
Second-dose Appointment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend mixing products for a two-dose primary vaccine series or an additional primary dose. If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product when you need a second shot or additional primary dose. The second vaccine dose is due in three weeks (21 days) for Pfizer-BioNTech or four weeks (28 days) for Moderna.
The Student Health Center receives minimal notice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as to when vaccine doses will arrive. As soon as our office receives confirmation of the second-dose delivery corresponding to your first-dose group, we will make appointments available. You will receive an email notification from Pepperdine University (hopefully a few days before your second dose is due) in order to schedule your appointment. Please note the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stipulates you may schedule the second dose up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. So, please do not be alarmed if your second-dose appointment is a few days after the due date.
Scheduling Your Booster Shot
Booster doses are common for many vaccines. A COVID-19 booster dose is recommended if you are 16 and older. To schedule a booster shot appointment, call the Student Health Center at 310.506.4316, option 3.
If you received Pfizer-BioNTech |
Who should get a booster:
- Adults 18 years and older
Who may get a booster:
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When to get a booster:
- At least 5 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
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Which booster can you get:
- Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations
- Teens ages 16–17 can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster
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If you received Moderna |
Who should get a booster:
- Adults 18 years and older
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When to get a booster:
- At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series
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Which booster can you get:
- Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations
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*Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.
Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.
Common Side Effects
On the arm where you got the shot:
Throughout the rest of your body:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
Helpful Tips
Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally.
It is not recommended you take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot:
- Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area
- Use or exercise your arm
To reduce discomfort from fever:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Dress lightly
When to Call the Doctor
In most cases, discomfort from pain or fever is a normal sign that your body is building protection. Contact your doctor:
- If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot gets worse after 24 hours
- If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days
If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions.
Have You Been Fully Vaccinated?
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine
If you do not meet these requirements, you are not fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
Even after you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, continue to take precautions to protect yourself and others including:
- Wear a well-fitting mask indoors and when required outdoors.
- Wash (or sanitize) your hands often.
- Stay home when you are sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should isolate, talk with a doctor, and get tested.
- If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised, you should continue to take extra precautions.
- Get a COVID-19 booster dose if you are age 16 and over. Booster doses are given 2 months after a J&J vaccine or 6 months after the last dose of a Pfizer or Moderna series.

V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers to the web surveys, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
V-safe does not provide medical advice. If you have symptoms or health problems that concern you at any time following COVID-19 vaccination, please contact your primary care physician.