Thank you for doing your part in the fight against COVID-19! Rite Aid is proud to play a role in helping protect you and your community.
What to bring to your appointment
We want your experience to be as quick and comfortable for you as possible. To aid your pharmacist in administering your vaccination, please bring all of the following that apply to you:
All insurance cards, including Medical and Pharmacy
The latest version of your red, white and blue Medicare card
Identification (such as driver's license or other issued ID)
Vaccine Administration Record if you have one
There is no charge for the COVID-19 vaccine and it’s available to all. You can still get a vaccine if you do not have ID or insurance.
Post-COVID-19 Vaccine symptom relief checklist
Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine such as pain, discomfort, fever, or itchiness are normal. Your Rite Aid pharmacist can help answer any questions about your COVID-19 vaccination or products that can relieve symptoms.
Pain & Fever
Call your doctor if redness or tenderness in the injection area worsens after 24 hours, or if side effects last more than a few days. If you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Here’s more information from the CDC about what to do if you have an allergic reaction.
5 things you should know for the day of your appointment
Check in at the store’s designated COVID-19 vaccination area. We ask that you do not check in until 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Remember to wear your mask and maintain social distancing during your appointment and for the duration of your time in the store!
Be sure to eat a nutritious meal and hydrate before your appointment to potentially lessen any side effects on the day of your vaccination.
An important note about over-the-counter pain relievers: Please do not take pain relievers for the purpose of preventing vaccine side effects before your appointment as it may impact the effectiveness of the vaccine.
You will need to remain in a waiting area for 15 minutes after you receive the vaccine so we can monitor you for rare potential allergic reactions to the vaccine.
More information about your vaccine
The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines were all approved to be administered under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). EUA allows the FDA to approve the use of medical countermeasures (MCMs), including vaccines, during public health emergencies.
To understand all the facts about the vaccine you’re about to receive, including the benefits and risks, download and review EUA document for your vaccine. Depending on vaccine availability and if this is your first or second dose, you will receive one of the following vaccines:
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Download (English) | Download (Español)
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (ages 12+) Download (English) | Download (Español)
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (ages 5-11) Download (English) | Download (Español)
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Download (English) | Download (Español)
As of 4/23/21, the pause on the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been lifted. Learn more.
Protect your friends & family
Wear A Mask
Avoid Crowds
Stay at least 6 feet away
Wash your hands often
Get a COVID-19 test on your time
We are now offering drive-through*, mail-in or at-home COVID-19 tests. Results vary from 15 minutes to 2-5 days, so be sure to plan ahead.
Track your progress with v-safe
V-Safe is a smartphone tool, developed by the CDC, to make sure you’re continuing to feel healthy for the months following your appointment. Check-ins take less than five minutes and will inform experts studying the vaccine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Appointment FAQs
You will not be charged for the vaccine or its administration. The federal government will pay for the cost of the vaccine. Vaccine providers will be reimbursed for administering the vaccine by the patient's insurance or by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program for uninsured patients.
When you get vaccinated, you will receive a fact sheet about the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as information about possible side effects or allergic reactions. Immediately after, you will be monitored on-site for 15-30 minutes. If you do not experience any reactions that warrant further medical assistance, you will be allowed to leave.
Both Moderna & Pfizer vaccines require two doses for 94% effectiveness. If you make your dose 1 appointment at Rite Aid, we will also schedule your second dose appointment. It is important that dose 1 & 2 are from the same vaccine. If you get both doses at Rite Aid, we will ensure this is the case.
If you have access to a smartphone, we recommend that you sign up for V-safe, the CDC After Vaccination Health Checker tool.
Your dose 2 visit will follow the same procedure as your dose 1 visit, but you will additionally receive proof of vaccination once your visit is complete. If you have access to a smartphone, we recommend that you sign up for V-safe, the CDC After Vaccination Health Checker tool.
We highly recommend you try and keep your appointment if possible. You may reschedule or cancel your appointment, but we cannot guarantee appointment availability. Visit our reschedule or cancel page to adjust your appointment.
For a full list of questions and answers about the vaccination process and what to expect during your appointment, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
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