Science, Safety and Education
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and how to prepare you and your family to receive it.
Vaccines Administered: 467,014
COVID-19 Vaccine
We are committed to health equity and enabling everyone—no matter what their race, ethnicity, or economic status—to receive the vaccine. This includes both our team members and the community we serve. The COVID-19 vaccine will help to protect you, your family, loved ones and the community.
We will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines that have met the rigorous requirements of the FDA and are recommended by the CDC, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).
We will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines that have met the rigorous requirements of the FDA and are recommended by the CDC, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).
We are also continuously making updates to our scheduling, walk-in locations, and vaccine information. Please check back frequently as we work to keep you safe and informed.
Vaccine Hub Resources
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Get a COVID-19 Vaccine
Information, convenience, and choice of COVID-19 vaccine are our priorities as we expand vaccine access to our communities and patients. You have options as we offer pre-scheduled appointments and, when possible, walk-in clinics.
A few important things to know:
A few important things to know:
- Walk-in locations are for first dose only.
- Your second dose is scheduled after your first dose appointment.
- Different vaccine types (manufacturers) are available at different locations. Appointment availability and location can depend on the vaccine manufacturer of your choice.
- Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a legal guardian
Most recent update:
May 21, 2021: All Spectrum Health primary care physician offices, including pediatrics, are now offering vaccines to patients with a Spectrum Health primary care physician. See below for how to make an appointment.
Additionally, all Spectrum Health urgent care locations (excluding Orthopedic Urgent Care) are now offering the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) to any eligible patient who is 18 and over.
How to schedule an appointment
Individual ages 12-17:
Call your Spectrum Health primary care provider/pediatrician, to schedule an appointment directly. Note that your appointment may be made with any primary care provider based on appointment availability.
Call the Spectrum Health COVID Vaccine Call Center at 833.755.0696 if you do not have a Spectrum Health primary care provider to get an appointment at other available locations like urgent care facilities or clinics.
Individuals 18 and over:
Schedule online with your Spectrum Health MyChart account. Scheduling with MyChart will give you a list of available options including primary care offices, urgent care locations and vaccine clinics by vaccine manufacturer preference.
Call the Spectrum Health COVID Vaccine Call Center at 833.755.0696 if you do not have a Spectrum Health MyChart account, have trouble accessing your account or need special assistance including language services.
Female patients under the age of 50 may schedule online or call.
Important note: If your preference is the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, please carefully review our Johnson & Johnson Side effects information sheet prior to scheduling your appointment. You can also find additional information about this vaccine in our Get to know the vaccines section.
Walk-in appointments: When available all walk-in locations are available, we will update that information here. This information can change daily. Please check back frequently.
Call your Spectrum Health primary care provider/pediatrician, to schedule an appointment directly. Note that your appointment may be made with any primary care provider based on appointment availability.
Call the Spectrum Health COVID Vaccine Call Center at 833.755.0696 if you do not have a Spectrum Health primary care provider to get an appointment at other available locations like urgent care facilities or clinics.
Individuals 18 and over:
Schedule online with your Spectrum Health MyChart account. Scheduling with MyChart will give you a list of available options including primary care offices, urgent care locations and vaccine clinics by vaccine manufacturer preference.
Call the Spectrum Health COVID Vaccine Call Center at 833.755.0696 if you do not have a Spectrum Health MyChart account, have trouble accessing your account or need special assistance including language services.
Female patients under the age of 50 may schedule online or call.
Important note: If your preference is the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, please carefully review our Johnson & Johnson Side effects information sheet prior to scheduling your appointment. You can also find additional information about this vaccine in our Get to know the vaccines section.
Walk-in appointments: When available all walk-in locations are available, we will update that information here. This information can change daily. Please check back frequently.
Please note that walk-in locations are for a first dose only. If you are trying to schedule your 2nd dose and have already received your first, please do so through Spectrum Health MyChart or by calling the Vaccine Call Center (833.755.0696).
COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
If you are:
- 18 and over with a Spectrum Health MyChart account
- And meet none of the above criteria.
Scheduling with MyChart will provide you with all available options including primary care offices, urgent care locations and vaccine clinics by vaccine manufacturer preference.
If you do not have a Spectrum MyChart account, or are having trouble accessing your account, you can still make a vaccine appointment by using the "Call Spectrum Health COVID Vaccine Call Center" option above.
Walk-in appointments:
This information can change daily. Please check back frequently.
All walk-in locations are for a first dose only. If you are trying to schedule your 2nd dose and have already received your first, please do so through Spectrum Health MyChart or by calling the Vaccine Call Center (833.755.0696).
The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no out-of-pocket cost. Insurance is not required to register for an appointment. If you have insurance, please include that information when scheduling.
Interpreting services are available at no cost if English is not your preferred language.
For our Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities - Video Remote ASL services are available at our vaccination clinics. If you need other accommodations, please call our vaccination schedulers at 833.755.0696.
For our Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities - Video Remote ASL services are available at our vaccination clinics. If you need other accommodations, please call our vaccination schedulers at 833.755.0696.
A second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine is necessary to further boost the immune response and ensure long-term protection from COVID-19. Community members can schedule their 2nd dose after they have received their first by calling 833.755.0696 or through their Spectrum Health MyChart account.
Interpreting services are available at no cost if English is not your preferred language. If you need other accommodations, please call our vaccination schedulers at 833.755.0696.
Is there assistance for people with a hearing disability?
Video Remote ASL services are available at our vaccination clinics. If you need other accommodations, please call our vaccination schedulers at 833.755.0696.
Please call 833.755.0696.
Through your Spectrum Health MyChart account or by calling 833.755.0696.
You will need a Spectrum Health MyChart account. Click here to create an account.
Spectrum Health urgent care facilities and regional clinics are available to anyone eligible for a vaccine. Call the COVID-19 Call Center to find available locations in your area.
Patients of Spectrum Health Primary Care/Internal Medicine/Pediatrics offices can make a vaccine appointment by calling their doctor’s office.
Things to Know
For your safety, if you fit into any of the categories below you will not be able to receive your vaccine at your scheduled appointment:
If the items above apply to you, please cancel/reschedule your appointment. If you are unsure if you should get the COVID-19 vaccine and want to speak with a provider, please contact a primary care provider.
- Are not feeling well and have a temperature greater than 100.4F
- If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction for which you were hospitalized or treated with epinephrine (EpiPen) as a result of: a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine, a component of the COVID-19 vaccine, or an injectable medication containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate. If you have, you will need a message from your provider indicating you are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Received passive antibody therapy as treatment for COVID-19 in the last 90 days
- Are currently in self-isolation for COVID-19 (10 days of self-isolation are required after symptoms)
If the items above apply to you, please cancel/reschedule your appointment. If you are unsure if you should get the COVID-19 vaccine and want to speak with a provider, please contact a primary care provider.
Wear clothing that allows a clinician to easily access your upper arm, as the vaccine is delivered to the deltoid muscle. Consider wearing a short-sleeved shirt or wear a short-sleeved shirt under a sweater or jacket that can easily be removed.
Transportation
Need a ride? If you are 60+ and think you might need a ride to get your COVID-19 vaccine, you may be eligible for a low-cost or donation-based ride. Download the flier to learn more.
- You should expect this appointment to take between 30 and 60 minutes.
- In compliance with existing Visitor Restrictions please wear a mask, come alone to your vaccine appointment.
- Arrive at your scheduled appointment time. We will not be able to accommodate early arrivals.
- Further instructions will be provided prior to your appointment and upon arrival.
- Video Relay Service (VRS) is available for Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the clinic.
- Translation services are available for those who require an interpreter.
Second Dose
Timing of the second dose is critical if you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and you must get the second dose to receive the full protection of the vaccine. If you did not also schedule your second dose when you made the first dose appointment, you will receive a notification to schedule within 24 to 48 hours.MCIR Text You May Receive
Spectrum Health is authorized by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to participate in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). After you receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine, you may receive a text message from MCIR to notify you when you are due for a second dose. If you do not want to receive further texts, reply with “STOP”.Side Effects
- The symptoms below are commonly experienced after a vaccine:
- Injection site pain, swelling or redness
- Excessive tiredness or feeling weak
- Muscle pain, joint pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Nausea or upset stomach or diarrhea
- Swollen lymph nodes
If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days please contact your primary care provider or the Vaccine Scheduling Line at 1.833.755.0696 to further discuss your reaction to the vaccine. If you do not have a primary care provider, we suggest scheduling a virtual visit through your preferred health system’s electronic resources.
You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. To learn more about side effects and when to call your primary care provider please download the CDC’s “What to expect” document below. "What to Expect after Getting a COVID Vaccine" (.pdf)
How does the COVID-19 Vaccine Work?
Vaccines work by tricking the immune system to fight off an infection. They do this in different ways. Some use weakened versions of the virus that are unable to cause illness (chicken pox and measles); some use dead virus (influenza); and the COVID-19 vaccine uses pieces of the virus to target a specific protein on the surface of the virus.
Note: You cannot get COVID-19 from a vaccine. The vaccine would contain proteins or other biological substances to stimulate the immune response, but not the coronavirus itself.
How is the vaccine administered?
Health care personnel and patients will receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a shot into the muscle of the upper arm. If you are receiving the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine, a second dose is then administered either three or four weeks later.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
The FDA carefully reviews all safety data and only authorizes vaccine use if there’s sufficient evidence strongly suggesting that patients have benefitted from the vaccine and that it meets safety standards. The FDA has rigorous scientific and regulatory processes in place to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine effective?
The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective, based on initial clinical trials. Because the vaccine is authorized for an emergency use during the pandemic, the vaccine’s maker will continue to collect data to demonstrate whether the vaccine is effective over longer periods of time.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective, based on initial clinical trials. Because the vaccine is authorized for an emergency use during the pandemic, the vaccine’s maker will continue to collect data to demonstrate whether the vaccine is effective over longer periods of time.
Does the vaccine have side effects?
There are usually mild to moderate side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effect caused by the vaccine includes pain at the site where the vaccine was given, which is in the arm. Other side effects may include a headache, fever, chills or muscle aches.
There are usually mild to moderate side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effect caused by the vaccine includes pain at the site where the vaccine was given, which is in the arm. Other side effects may include a headache, fever, chills or muscle aches.
Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect after getting my COVID-19 Vaccine?You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. To learn more about side effects and when to call your primary care provider please download the CDC’s “What to expect” document below. "What to Expect after Getting a COVID Vaccine" (.pdf)
How does the COVID-19 Vaccine Work?
Vaccines work by tricking the immune system to fight off an infection. They do this in different ways. Some use weakened versions of the virus that are unable to cause illness (chicken pox and measles); some use dead virus (influenza); and the COVID-19 vaccine uses pieces of the virus to target a specific protein on the surface of the virus.
Note: You cannot get COVID-19 from a vaccine. The vaccine would contain proteins or other biological substances to stimulate the immune response, but not the coronavirus itself.
How is the vaccine administered?
Health care personnel and patients will receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a shot into the muscle of the upper arm. If you are receiving the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine, a second dose is then administered either three or four weeks later.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
The FDA carefully reviews all safety data and only authorizes vaccine use if there’s sufficient evidence strongly suggesting that patients have benefitted from the vaccine and that it meets safety standards. The FDA has rigorous scientific and regulatory processes in place to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine effective?
The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective, based on initial clinical trials. Because the vaccine is authorized for an emergency use during the pandemic, the vaccine’s maker will continue to collect data to demonstrate whether the vaccine is effective over longer periods of time. Find more information in the Emergency Use Authorization for Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines.
Does the vaccine have side effects?
There are usually mild to moderate side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effect caused by the vaccine includes pain at the site where the vaccine was given, which is in the arm. Other side effects may include a headache, fever, chills or muscle aches.
Do I need to get my 2nd dose?
If you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, it is important to get your 2nd dose in order to receive the full protection of the vaccine. This is based on the clinical trial data for both COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine Hub Resources
Science, Safety and Education
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and how to prepare you and your family to receive it.
Stories and Hope
Unique experiences from patients, family members, doctors and others.
Community Connections
How Spectrum Health is bridging the information gap across our communities alongside partners.