COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Am I able to get the COVID-19 vaccine at ShopRite Pharmacy?
A. ShopRite is proud to partner with the states of Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer the COVID-19 vaccination in accordance with the CDC’s phased approach for vaccine distribution. The vaccine is currently available at ShopRite Pharmacies throughout our trading area for the general adult population.
The CDC and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have reported that the vaccine is considered safe and effective with a high benefit-to-risk ratio. They have, however, issued a warning for women younger than 50, who should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination with the Janssen (J&J) Vaccine. Other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk is of concern.
Q. Which authorized vaccine will I be able to get at ShopRite Pharmacy?
A. As of March 2, 2021, vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen have received emergency-use authorization by the FDA. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are mRNA vaccines administered in two doses, given either 28 days apart (Moderna) or 21 days apart (Pfizer). The Janssen vaccine, commonly known as Johnson & Johnson, is a viral vector vaccine that is administered as one dose. All three vaccines are considered highly efficacious by the CDC.
The CDC and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have reported that the vaccine is considered safe and effective with a high benefit-to-risk ratio. They have, however, issued a warning for women younger than 50, who should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination with the Janssen (J&J) Vaccine. Other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk is of concern.
Click below for details on the individual vaccines:
The type of vaccine administered at a given ShopRite Pharmacy is dependent on location and supply.
Please note: At this time, individuals younger than 18 are eligible to receive only the Pfizer vaccine, where available, and will require a parent or guardian to provide consent to receive the vaccine. Click here for information from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccines for patients 5 years of age and older.
Q. What populations are currently able to receive the vaccination?
A. Individuals as young as 5 years of age may receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. People 18 years of age and older may receive the Moderna, Pfizer or Janssen (J&J) vaccine.
Q. What is the process for receiving a vaccine? Should I just drop by the Pharmacy or can I make an appointment?
A. All ShopRite Pharmacy locations administering COVID-19 vaccines accept scheduled appointments and most accept walk-in appointments.
Walk-in hours vary by location; check or message your store’s local Facebook page for walk-in hours.
To schedule an appointment, visit our COVID-19 vaccine scheduler, accessible both online at vaccines.ShopRite.com and via the ShopRite Pharmacy app (available on the Apple and Google Play stores). Use the scheduler to book appointments by vaccine type and zip code. Appointments open up based on the vaccine supply our locations receive.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are selecting either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, please make sure that you schedule both appointments (first and second dose) at the SAME ShopRite Pharmacy location.
To find out whether your ShopRite location accepts walk-in appointments, check or message your store’s local Facebook page for updates. (Search “ShopRite of [type your location]” on your Facebook home page.)
Q. I’m from out-of-state. Can I still get vaccinated at one of the Pharmacies that currently has the vaccine?
A. There are currently no restrictions due to state of occupancy.
Q. I have to reschedule my second Moderna or Pfizer vaccine dose. What’s my time frame?
A. You should get your second shot as close to the recommended three- or four-week interval, respectively, as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to six weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary. You should not get the second dose early. There is currently limited information on the effectiveness of receiving your second shot earlier than recommended or later than six weeks after the first shot.
However, if you do receive your second shot of COVID-19 vaccine up to four days before or at any time after the recommended date, you do not have to restart the vaccine series and can be considered fully vaccinated. This guidance might be updated as more information becomes available.
Q. I received a first vaccine dose at another location. Can I get my second dose at a ShopRite Pharmacy?
A. Yes, the ShopRite Pharmacy of your choice may provide you with any second, third or booster dose, regardless of where you received your first dose.
Q: I read something about a third shot. Are you administering more than two vaccines?
A. Pharmacies are authorized to administer an additional dose to patients identified as immunocompromised. Booster doses of the vaccine of your choice are eligible to most individuals 18 years of age and older.
Q: I am immunocompromised and would like an additional vaccine dose. Do I have to bring proof of my medical condition?
A. No. The only documentation recommended to be provided to receive an additional dose is your vaccination card documenting a previously administered two-dose course of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. All patients who received the Janssen (J&J) vaccine are eligible for an additional dose two months after their first shot.
Q. Are booster doses available at ShopRite locations?
A. Booster doses are available for all COVID-19 vaccines at ShopRite locations. Booster doses can be mixed-and-matched based on preference or vaccine availability. At this time, most individuals 18 years of age and older can receive a COVID-19 booster. Patients receiving a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine who are booster-eligible should receive a booster no sooner than six months after the completion of the initial series. Patients who received the single-dose Janssen (J&J) vaccine should receive a booster of their choice no sooner than two months after the first dose.
Click here for CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster vaccine eligibility:
Q. Does insurance cover the vaccine cost?
A. Patients do not incur an out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine. The provider receives an administration fee either through billing the patient’s insurance or through a government-paid plan yet to be defined. Note that healthcare coverage can vary by plan.
Q. Is the vaccine safe?
A. According to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the pharmacy profession has a high degree of confidence that the FDA has taken extraordinary care to ensure that all approved vaccines are safe and effective, and that the American people should have great confidence in them. The vast majority of pharmacists have indicated in recent surveys that they intend to be or are vaccinated themselves and recommend the vaccine to their patients.
The CDC and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have reported that the vaccine is considered safe and effective with a high benefit-to-risk ratio. They have, however, issued a warning for women younger than 50, who should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination with the Janssen (J&J) Vaccine. Other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk is of concern.
If this risk is a concern to individuals contemplating receiving a COVID vaccine, please note that they can decide which vaccine to receive at one of the many ShopRite locations prepared to administer all three vaccine types currently approved for use.
Individuals with specific questions or concerns about the COVID vaccine should speak with a physician or pharmacist.
Q. I read that some people have reactions to the vaccine. What should I do if I experience side effects?
A. The side effects associated with the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are akin to those associated with other vaccinations (like the flu vaccine) and can include pain or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills, fever and nausea/vomiting.
The side effects associated with Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine include pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and nausea. The CDC and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have reported that the vaccine is considered safe and effective with a high benefit-to-risk ratio. They have, however, issued a warning for women younger than 50, who should be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination with the Janssen (J&J) Vaccine. Other COVID-19 vaccines are available where this risk is of concern.
According to CDC guidelines, our Pharmacy team monitors vaccine recipients post-vaccination for 15 minutes. Individuals with a history of an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a vaccine or injectable therapy or those with a history of anaphylaxis are observed for 30 minutes.
We recommend that vaccine recipients download the CDC’s V-Safe mobile app to track and report symptoms should they occur after the monitoring period.
Note that all three COVID-19 vaccines are still being studied in clinical trials. Because of the potential but unlikely risk for more serious side effects, vaccine recipients should call 911 or seek immediate medical help if they experience any effects about which they are unsure.
Q. I read that the vaccine needs to be kept at extremely cold temperatures. Does the Pharmacy have the correct equipment?
A. The Moderna and Janssen (J&J) vaccines available at our Pharmacies do not require the deep-freeze storage condition defined as “ultra-cold.” The Moderna vaccine requires storage in a standard freezer, and the Janssen (J&J) vaccine requires storage in a standard freezer, with which all our locations are equipped and are continuously monitored for temperature compliance. The Pfizer vaccine may be stored in a standard freezer for up to two weeks, then refrigerated for up to one month (31 days)
Q. What else is ShopRite doing to help safeguard the community from COVID-19?
A. ShopRite has been working throughout the pandemic to ensure that communities have access to fresh foods and necessities. ShopRite stores have adopted recommended safety precautions to keep its associates and shoppers safe, including mask mandates, plexiglass panels, staff temperature checks and limiting the number of customers in-store