vaccine

Immunizations (also known as vaccines) are one of the most effective and successful tools to prevent disease, illness, and premature death from infectious diseases.

Most adults need these routine immunizations:

• COVID-19 vaccine
• Flu vaccine (influenza)
• Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) or Td vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria)

How to get vaccinated

• Most health insurance plans cover vaccines without charging a copayment or coinsurance, even if you have not met a yearly deductible.
• The best place to get any vaccine is with your regular healthcare provider.
• You can check with your local pharmacy to see if they offer the vaccines you are looking for. In Oregon, pharmacists can immunize people aged 7 years or older. You can find pharmacies offering vaccines at vaccinefinder.org.
• Clackamas Free Clinic in Oregon City offers some free vaccines to uninsured adults age 18+. Supply may be limited. To request an appointment, please call 503-722-4400.
• If you don’t have insurance, there may be a cost for the COVID-19 vaccine. We will share about opportunities for free or low-cost COVID-19 vaccines as more information becomes available. Pfizer offers a patient assistance program that you may eligible for.
• Need transportation to a vaccine appointment?
  • If you have OHP through CareOregon/Health Share of Oregon: contact Ride to Care. Toll-free: 855-321-4899 | Online: ridetocare.com
  • If you have OHP through Trillium: contact Medical Transportation Management (MTM) at 1-877-583-1552.
  • If you are 65+ or have a disability: contact Transportation Reaching People. Phone: 503-655-8208 | Email: trpclackamas@clackamas.us

Learn about childhood immunizations

Learn about vaccines for respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu.  

Adults may need other immunizations, too. See the Adult 19 and Older Immunization Schedule from the American Academy of Family Physicians for more information. 

You can get immunizations from your primary care provider or a pharmacy. 

Don’t have a primary care provider? Call Clackamas County Health Centers at 503-655-8471 to make an appointment.

Frequently asked questions about immunization and vaccines

Where to Get Childhood Immunizations

If your child has a primary care provider, schedule an appointment with them for immunizations. If they don’t have health insurance or a primary care provider, schedule an appointment at a Clackamas County Health Center or Neighborhood Health Centers. Immunizations are also available at school based health centers. Affordable options are available for people who are uninsured or underinsured.

Clackamas County Health Centers

To schedule an appointment, call 503-655-8471.

• Beavercreek Health Center
  110 Beavercreek Rd, Suite 100, Oregon City
• Gladstone Health Center
  18911 Portland Ave, Gladstone
• Sandy Health Center
  39740 Pleasant St, Sandy
• Sunnyside Health Center
  9775 SE Sunnyside Rd, Suite 200, Clackamas

Neighborhood Health Centers

Call 503-848-5861 for appointment availability and hours of operation.

• Canby Medical Clinic
  178 SW 2nd Ave, Canby
• Milwaukie Medical Clinic
  10330 SE 32nd Ave, Suite 325 Milwaukie
• Oregon City Medical Clinic
  728 Molalla Ave, Oregon City

School Based Health Centers

Open to district students. Call your nearby school based health center to see if your student is eligible to be seen and schedule an appointment.

• Adrienne C. Nelson High School
  503-353-5770
• Clackamas High School
  503-353-5890
• Estacada High School
  503-630-8550
• Milwaukie High School
  503-353-5847
• Oregon City High School
  503-785-8770
• Rex Putnam High School
  503-353-5884
• Sandy High School
  971-220-2701

Uniting for Ukraine

Please contact Clackamas County Public Health for free, fast, confidential services to meet the U for U requirements. Call 503-655-8411

Oregon Immunization Requirements

Immunizations are required by law for children in attendance at public and private schools, preschools, childcare facilities, and Head Start programs in Oregon. This school year, all children who are not up-to-date or complete on their immunizations and have not submitted a medical or non-medical exemption will be excluded from their school or child care facility starting February 21, 2024.  

Information about specific vaccines and diseases

• Learn about Whooping Cough (pertussis)
• Learn about measles
• Learn about other vaccines and diseases from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses

Vaccines can help protect you and your child from illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu. They provide a safe and reliable way to build your body’s protection against these respiratory diseases.  

Why should my child get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines?

• I want to protect my child and our family
• I want to protect the people around us, like neighbors and classmates
• I want to lower my child’s risk of complications like pneumonia or Long Covid  
• When a disease starts going around, I want to leave doctor’s appointments and medications available for people who are most sick
• It would be hard for me to take time off work if my child got sick
• My child or someone in my family is at high risk of severe diseases because they have underlying medical conditions

It is important to get updated vaccines when they are released because the viruses that cause flu and COVID-19 both change quickly. Updated vaccines are designed to offer better protection against the versions of the virus that are in current circulation. They help boost our bodies’ immunity against flu and COVID-19, which can wane over time. 

 

About COVID-19 Vaccines

• The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, and everyone ages 6 months and older can receive the updated vaccine, no prescription needed.
• Children 7 and older can get vaccinated in pharmacies.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is especially important for children between 6–23 months of age and children over 6 months who are at high risk of severe disease because they have underlying medical conditions.
• Some children have no side effects from the vaccine. Some children may experience short-term side effects like fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, vomiting, fever and/or sore arm. These symptoms usually go away in a day or so on their own. 

About Influenza (Flu) Vaccines

• The flu vaccine is safe, and is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.  
• Flu vaccine does not cause the flu because the virus used is dead or weakened so it cannot make you ill. Fewer than 1% of people develop flu-like symptoms, such as mild fever and muscle aches, after vaccination. These side effects are not the same as having the actual disease.