All eligible and authorized TRICARE beneficiaries can make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, as available, at a DoD vaccination site.
Where can I get the vaccine?
The availability of the vaccine may vary by location. Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries can make a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at a military hospital, clinic, or vaccination site. This includes US Family Health Plan (USFHP) enrollees. Visit the COVID-19 DoD Vaccine Appointments page to see DoD vaccination locations and what appointment tools each location is using.
Pharmacies participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, participating pharmacies, and vaccination sites, which can include local convenience store chains and grocery stores.
The vaccine itself is offered at no cost, but there may be a cost based on your plan for an office visit or if you require follow-on care.
Why should I get the vaccine?
According to the CDC, a COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool in stopping the pandemic. It may be an effective way to lower your risk of contracting COVID-19. And it may help keep you from getting seriously ill if you do catch the virus. Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to have severe disease and be hospitalized. >>Learn more
Who should get the vaccine?
The CDC and the DoD recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for all people 5 years and older.
The vaccines may cause side effects in some people, like sore muscles, feeling tired, or mild fever. For most people, these side effects will last no more than a day or two. Having these side effects doesn't mean you have COVID-19. If you have questions about how you're feeling after your shot, contact your provider or call the MHS Nurse Advice Line. It's rare, but if you have a severe allergic reaction, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency roomThe hospital department that provides emergency services to patients who need immediate medical attention.. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccines:
Don't contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. You can't get COVID-19 from these vaccines.
Don't affect or interact with our DNA in any way.
Have gone through the same safety tests and meet the same standards as any other vaccines produced through the years. There's a system in place that allows the CDC to watch for safety issues and make sure the vaccines stay safe.
Joining V-safe
If you've already received your COVID-19 vaccine, you can sign up for v-safe. V-safe is a smart-phone based tool developed by the CDC, 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 the COVID-19 vaccine. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for COVID-19 booster shots varies based on age, medical history, and vaccine type. For information on whether you should get a booster, visit the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Booster page. >>Learn more
Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, but experts don't know how long this protection lasts. The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.
Researchers develop vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat diseases in stages. In Phase 1 Trials, researchers test an experimental drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time. In Phase 2 Trials, the experimental drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it’s effective and to further evaluate its safety. In Phase 3 Trials, the experimental study drug or treatment is given to very large groups of people. Researchers confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the experimental drug or treatment to be used safely. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers to submit their raw data for review. The FDA collects ad reviews safety, immune response, and efficacy data from the trial stages before it authorizes vaccines for use and distribution.
All members of the Active and Reserve Components, including the National Guard, are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine along with the list of other vaccines already required as part of individual medical readiness requirements. Each service will determine its own timeline for this requirement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions, such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions, among several others, are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Please talk to your doctor to see if you may qualify to receive the vaccine. Learn more about conditions that may increase your risk for severe illness.
COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. However, if you are currently infected with COVID-19, you should wait to get vaccinated until after your illness has resolved and after you meet the criteria to discontinue isolation.
You may receive a questionnaire via email asking about your COVID-19 vaccine status. This is a valid survey from the DOD, which was also approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with the control number of 0720-0069.
You received this email because we don’t have a record of your vaccination status. Responding to the questionnaire will help us shape how we support future vaccine logistics.
Please help us plan for future COVID-19 vaccine needs by responding to the survey within 3 days of receiving it.
The CDC recommends the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5-11. If you are unsure if the vaccine is right for your children, talk to your provider and make them aware any medical conditions, including reactions to previous vaccines.
The Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a 2-dose series, 21-days apart. Each dose contains 10mg of the vaccine, which is one third the adult dose.
If your child has a history of a severe allergic reaction to a component of the vaccine, talk to your provider to determine if it is safe to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine.
Parents currently have the option to vaccinate their children age 5-11. Should you decide for your child not to receive it, it won’t change your child’s standard medical care.
For children 5 to 11 years old, the CDC recommends a pediatric dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, no other COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for this age group.
Yes. There is no difference between the adult and child vaccine card. When your child gets the first dose, you will get a vaccination card. This will include the date of initial dose as well as the date for the second date. Remember to bring the card when your child returns.
You may be able to use an online scheduling tool to book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment at a DoD vaccination site.
