San Mateo County Health Follows State Vaccination Guidance for Respiratory Diseases

Redwood City - As respiratory virus season approaches, San Mateo County Health follows the vaccination guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for COVID-19, influenza and RSV.

These recommendations are derived from the West Coast Health Alliance of California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii and are based guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. With regional, state and local partners, San Mateo County Health is committed to providing vaccination guidance from trusted scientific, health care and public health organizations.

The CDPH recommends vaccines for the following groups:

COVID-19

• Children: All children 6-23 months; All children 2-18 years with risk factors or who have never vaccinated against COVID-19; All children with close contact with others with risk factors; All children who choose protection
• Adults: All adults age 65 years or older; All adults ages 18-64 years with risk factors; All adults with close contact with others with risk factors; All adults who choose protection
• Pregnancy: All planning, pregnant, postpartum, and lactating

Influenza

• Children: All children 6 months or older
• Adults: All adults 18 years or older
• Pregnancy: All planning, pregnant, postpartum, and lactating

RSV

• Children: All children 8 months or younger; All children 8-19 months with risk factors
• Adults: All adults 75 years or older; All adults 50-74 years with risk factors
• Pregnancy: Pregnant between 32-36 weeks gestational age

The recommended vaccines will continue to be covered by health care insurers regulated by the state and can be received at local pharmacies and from health care and other authorized vaccine providers at no cost.

The California Department of Public Health is working with health care and pharmacy partners to ensure implementation of these new policies. Not all of these vaccines will be immediately available in all locations, but availability is expected to improve in the coming weeks.

To confirm availability and schedule a vaccine appointment, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy or visit myturn.ca.gov.

County Health is working with local community organizations to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines to residents without insurance. Locations and times will be available soon. Residents may also call County Health's Immunization Program at (650) 573-2877 to learn of vaccination opportunities.

"These vaccines are especially important to protect people who are most at risk for getting seriously sick, including young children, older adults and those who are pregnant," said Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, San Mateo County health officer. "The CDPH recommendations are clear. In addition to the high-risk groups, everyone over 6 months who chooses protection from COVID-19 should get vaccinated."

Preston Merchant
Communications Officer
650-867-1661
[email protected]