JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) — The Mississippi State Department of Health is not prohibiting people who got the first shot of the coronavirus vaccine through one of its free drive-thru vaccinations from getting it at another location.

The agency on the website to sign up for vaccinations asks people to schedule the second dose at the same spot the first dose was given.

However, Deputy State Epidemiologist Doctor Katie Taylor said while that is recommended, it is not required.

People who get the first shot get a date when that second shot should be administered, but the state tells people it is up to them to schedule the follow-up vaccination.

For example, people who got the Moderna vaccine Thursday at the state's drive-thru vaccination in Columbus were told to get the second shot on February 11.

But the state vaccination website at multiple times Thursday morning did not list Columbus as an option for the second shot on the recommended date.

On Thursday night, the site did have the Columbus location listed, but the appointments were unavailable. It did list open appointments for Greenville, McComb and Natchez for February 11 or February 12.

It also is possible the window did open for appointments in Columbus at some point during the day. Open vaccination appointment times can quickly disappear because of the demand.

While the locations can be different, there is one thing that must remain the same for both doses of the vaccine: the type of vaccine received.

The state health agency said if you get a certain kind of coronavirus vaccine the first time, you should get the same kind the second time.