General COVID-19 Vaccine Program Questions

Updated April 29, 2021

Where does John Muir Health get vaccines?

We get our vaccines from Contra Costa County. The number of vaccines we receive from the County is dependent on the supply the County receives from the State. The State provides vaccines to the county based on the supply received from the Federal Government.

At which locations is John Muir Health giving vaccines?

We have set up vaccine clinics devoted to COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccinations are being given by appointment only. This is to ensure that we only schedule as many appointments as we have vaccine supply for. We are not currently giving COVID-19 vaccines in our physician offices. 

If you scheduled a vaccination appointment through your MyChart account, the location for your vaccine is included in your appointment details found in your MyChart account. Follow these steps to view your appointment details:

1. Log in to MyChart. Trouble logging in? Please visit our MyChart FAQ for help
2. Click on the Visits icon at the top of the page
3. Your vaccine appointment will show under upcoming visits. 
4. For more details and instructions, click on the appointment to see the Appointment details page.

Contra Costa County and other entities are giving vaccines. Do I need to wait for an appointment at John Muir Health?

You don’t need to wait to hear from John Muir Health. It’s most important to us that you get the vaccine -- no matter the location. 

If you get an opportunity to be vaccinated somewhere else, such as a county or state location or retail pharmacy, please take it. All vaccination sites have the currently approved vaccines for COVID-19.

Is there a cost to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.

COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot:

• Charge you for the vaccine
• Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, or coinsurance
• Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network
• Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination
• Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate

COVID-19 vaccination providers can:

• Seek appropriate reimbursement from the recipient’s plan or program (e.g., private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid) for a vaccine administration fee
  • However, providers cannot charge the vaccine recipient the balance of the bill
• Seek reimbursement for uninsured vaccine recipients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s COVID-19 Uninsured Programexternal icon

John Muir Health is billing health insurance plans for a vaccine administration fee. This is why we collect patients' health insurance information at the time of service, but there is no charge to patients. 

Is there a number that people can call to get vaccine information?

Yes! We have a COVID-19 information line with recorded information: (925) 952-2300. We update this information line as frequently as we have new information. It is the same information that we publish on our website.