Anyone 6 months or older can get a COVID-19 vaccine from HealthCore Clinic. We also have the updated bivalent boosters, primary series boosters, and 3rd doses available. Schedule your COVID-19 vaccine appointment today, or we accept walk-ins at these times:
Vaccine Walk-in Times
Thursdays 2-5 PM
Adult, adolescent, and kids
Pfizer or Moderna (Primary Series & Updated Bivalent)
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and booster shots
Do I have COVID-19?
COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms. The diseases can also cause no symptoms or mild or severe symptoms. Because of the similarities, it is hard to know if you have COVID-19 until you get tested. We’ve created a quick online COVID-19 Symptoms Quiz to help you determine if you may have COVID-19 and if you should get tested.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, especially our communities of color. Minority populations are at higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus due to social determinants of health and longstanding inequalities in terms of housing, transportation, occupation and access to health care.
HealthCore Clinic has partnered with community organizations such as GraceMed Health Clinic, Sedgwick County Health Department, Sedgwick County Commissioner’s Office, Wichita City Council and Mayor Brandon Whipple to provide access to tools and information so you can get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Vaccine Options
Which COVID-19 vaccine should I get?
All are highly effective.
There are different COVID-19 vaccines available from different companies. Which vaccine you get is entirely dependent on which vaccine your provider has. To put things in perspective, the flu vaccine has an efficacy of roughly 44%, meaning all of the COVID-19 vaccines are considered highly effective.
HealthCore Clinic has created a detailed COVID Vaccine Comparison Guide for more information.
- Pfizer-BioNTech 95% efficacy. 2 shots, 3 weeks apart. mRNA-based.Anyone 6 months or older can get a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Ages 6 months—4 years are eligible for the primary series vaccine only and anyone age 5 or older is eligible for the new Pfizer bivalent booster.
Second-dose boosters are recommended 3-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated. Third-dose boosters are recommended 8 weeks after the second-dose booster for children ages 6 months—4 years and at least 2 months after the second dose booster for anyone age 5 or older. The new bivalent boosters are available for people age 5 or older as their third dose.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (COMIRNATY) has an efficacy of 95% and requires 2 shots, 3 weeks apart. It is an mRNA-based vaccine, which triggers an immune response that produces antibodies to protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. - Moderna 94.1% efficacy. 2 shots, 4 weeks apart. mRNA-based.Anyone 6 months or older can get a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Ages 6 months—5 years are eligible for the primary series vaccine and anyone age 5 or older is eligible for the new Pfizer bivalent booster (It is safe to get Moderna for the first 2 doses and Pfizer for the third).
Second-dose boosters are recommended 4-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated. Third-dose boosters are recommended at least 2 months after the second-dose booster. The new bivalent boosters from Pfizer are available for people age 5 or older as their third dose.
The Moderna vaccine has an efficacy of 94.1% and requires 2 shots, 4 weeks apart. It is also an mRNA-based vaccine, which triggers an immune response that produces antibodies to protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
Vaccine Safety
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
Thousands of Kansas and millions of Americans have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines underwent clinical trials and have been approved for emergency use authorization. The vaccines will also undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been FDA approved for people 6 months or older. A vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) status in select age groups doesn’t mean they’re less safe, it simply means they are currently under EUA status because not enough time has passed to show how long the vaccines stay effective.
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for kids?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are safe for anyone 6 months or older. There are different doses depending on age groups.
COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended for children aged 6 months–5 years since June 2022; approximately one million doses were administered to persons in this age group during June–August 2022. On October 29, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include children ages 5 through 11. The authorization was based on the FDA’s thorough and transparent evaluation of the data that included input from independent advisory committee experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making the vaccine available to children in this age group.
What is a Booster Shot?
Booster shots provide additional protection against COVID-19 and help to strengthen protection against severe disease in populations at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 or complications from severe illness.
Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) and the State of Kansas have approved COVID-19 booster shots for people age 6 months and older.
- Pfizer Booster Shots
- AGE 6 MONTHS—4 YEARS
- Second dose (Primary Series) 3-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose (Primary Series) at least 8 weeks after the second dose.
- AGE 5—11 YEARS
- Second dose (Primary Series) 3-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose at least 2 months after the second dose. Children age 5 can only get the Primary Series booster. Children ages 6-11 can get Pfizer, Pfizer bivalent, or Moderna.
- AGE 12—17
- Second dose (Primary Series) 3-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose at least 2 months after the second dose. Can get Pfizer, Pfizer bivalent, or Moderna.
- AGE 18 & OLDER
- Second dose (Primary Series) 3-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose at least 2 months after the second dose or last booster. Can get Pfizer, Pfizer bivalent, or Moderna
- AGE 6 MONTHS—4 YEARS
- Moderna Booster Shots
- AGE 6 MONTHS—5 YEARS
- Second dose (Primary Series) 4-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose: Children 5 years of age can get a Pfizer booster at least 2 months after their 2nd dose. (Children 6 months to 4 years are not recommended for a booster.)
- AGE 6—17 YEARS
- Second dose (Primary Series) 4-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose at least 2 months after the second dose. Can get Pfizer, Pfizer bivalent, or Moderna.
- AGE 18 & OLDER
- Second dose (Primary Series) 4-8 weeks after being fully vaccinated.
- Third dose at least 2 months after the second dose or last booster. Can get Pfizer, Pfizer bivalent, or Moderna.
- AGE 6 MONTHS—5 YEARS
What are the updated bivalent boosters?
The updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.
Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The different versions of the virus that have developed over time are called variants. Learn more about variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters.
Can you use any COVID-19 vaccine for a booster shot?
Yes. You can “mix-and-match” booster shots. Any of the COVID-19 vaccines can be used for booster vaccination, regardless of the vaccine you initially received.
What is a 3rd Dose?
Like booster shots, a 3rd dose provides additional protection against COVID-19 and helps to strengthen protection against severe disease. Regardless of which vaccine you were initially administered, you will be given a booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Are there side effects from getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
While many people experience little to no side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, most people will experience mild side effects such as soreness at the site of the injection, a headache, chills, and/or a fever. Most people report these mild side effects lasting for 24 – 48 hours. These reactions are normal, they show that the vaccine is working, and are a sign that your body is developing antibodies.
A very small number of people have had an allergic reaction after vaccination. This is extremely rare, and when it happens, vaccine providers have medicines available to effectively, and immediately, treat the reaction. When you are administered your COVID-19 vaccine, you will be asked to wait for 15-30 minutes after while you are monitored to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction.
Who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine?
If you have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get either of the currently available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. If you had a severe allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, CDC recommends that you should not get the second dose.
If you have had an immediate allergic reaction—even if it was not severe—to a vaccine or injectable therapy for another disease, ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Your doctor will help you decide if it is safe for you to get vaccinated.
If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (whether a primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.
Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, certain factors, such as personal risk of severe disease, or risk of disease in a loved one or close contact, local COVID-19 Community Level, and the most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness, could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later.
Affordability
How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost?
The COVID-19 vaccine is free, and no insurance is required.
The Federal Government permits vaccine providers to charge an administration fee, but cannot deny a vaccine based on inability to pay. What this means is, everyone who wants the vaccine will get the vaccine.
When you schedule your vaccine, ask your chosen vaccine provider if they charge an administration fee. If you are unable to pay the fee, please inform your provider in advance. You will not be denied a vaccine.
As a federally-qualified health clinic, we do not charge a fee for the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost for the patient, regardless of insurance status. However, the appropriate insurance will be billed, if applicable.
Vaccine Sites
Where do I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
There are locations assigned as vaccine sites and conveniently located across Sedgwick County. As more vaccines become available, there will be even more sites. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has created a tool called “Find My Vaccine.” It is an interactive map that shows where you can get your vaccine in any of Kansas’s 105 counties.
HealthCore Clinic is an official vaccine site. Schedule your vaccine today.
COVID-19 Variants
What are the Delta & Omicron variants?
The Delta & Omicron variants are highly contagious strains of the coronavirus.
People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 appear to have protection against the coronavirus variants, but anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies is at risk for infection by a new variant.
Delta is the name for the B.1.617.2. variant, a SARS-CoV-2 mutation that originally surfaced in India. The first Delta case was identified in December 2020, and the strain spread rapidly, soon becoming the dominant strain of the virus in both India and then Great Britain. The first Delta case in the United States was diagnosed in March 2021 and quickly became the dominant strain in the U.S.
Omicron is the name for the B.1.1.529 variant, a SARS-CoV-2 mutation that originally surfaced in South Africa. The first Omicron case was identified in November 2021, and the strain spread rapidly, soon becoming the dominant strain of the virus worldwide.
With the Delta & Omicron variants, COVID-19 symptoms often begin like a cold. Symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, and other upper respiratory infection symptoms. Unlike in previous variants, the loss of taste and smell seems to be uncommon with the Omicron variant. The prominent symptoms reported with Omicron include a cough, fatigue or tiredness, congestion, and a runny nose. Evidence suggests people who have previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron. However, those who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot tend to have milder infections with Omicron. Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variants of Delta & Omicron.
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19 and the variants is to get fully vaccinated. That means if you get a two-dose vaccine like Pfizer or Moderna, you must get both shots and then wait the recommended two-week period for those shots to take full effect. If eligible, getting a booster shot is highly recommended. Whether or not you are vaccinated, it’s also important to follow CDC prevention guidelines that are available for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Ongoing Safety
What to do after you have been vaccinated?
Once you are fully vaccinated, please continue to follow any social distancing measures such as wearing a mask, remaining 6-feet apart, and washing your hands frequently. While you may have developed antibodies from COVID-19, you can still spread it to someone who has not yet been vaccinated.
Together, we can achieve immunity in our community.
HealthCore Clinic and other state agencies will continue to provide updates and recommendations. To end the COVID-19 pandemic, it will take all of us chipping in and doing our part. Subscribe to our email newsletter to get updates about vaccine events, important changes, and other information relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic and your health safety.
HealthCore Clinic offers an integrated approach to care through affordable access to medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services all under one roof. HealthCore Clinic has been serving the community for decades before the pandemic, we have served the community during the pandemic, and we will continue to serve long after.