Updated, Bivalent Boosters

The updated COVID-19 boosters, which are effective against both the original strain of the virus and the Omicron variants, have been approved for use in California.

Updated boosters are available from primary health care providers, such as Kaiser and Sutter, as well as from pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, and others. Vaccines are available with or without advance appointments on MyTurn, though appointments are recommended.

Eligibility for Updated Boosters

• Moderna Bivalent Booster is authorized and recommended for those 6 years and older.
• Pfizer Bivalent Booster is authorized and recommended for those 5 years and older.
• People cannot get a bivalent booster without first completing at least a primary series. 
• The bivalent booster recommendation replaces previous booster recommendations.

Timing

Boosters should be administered at least 2 months after completion of the primary series or the most recent booster dose of the original COVID-19 vaccine. 

Scheduling a Vaccination Appointment

The State of California’s MyTurn system offers options for online appointment scheduling for vaccine clinics throughout San Mateo County and the Bay Area. You can also call the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255 (available in multiple languages) for scheduling support.

Uninsured Residents

You don’t need health insurance in order to get vaccinated. Vaccination sites will provide vaccines to uninsured residents.

For residents who would like to enroll in a health plan, please click here. Health insurance is available regardless of immigration status, through a combination of Federal, State, and County programs. Call (650) 616-2002 to speak to an enrollment counselor.

County Pop-Up Clinics

County Health supports school and faith-based community COVID-19 vaccine clinics through the end of March 2023.

To request a pop-up vaccine clinic specifically at a school or faith-based site please complete the online request form.

Congregate Facility Vaccination Clinics

By request, County Health offers COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics at congregate care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, shelters, and residential facilities for the elderly. Please use this form to request a vaccine clinic at a congregate facility.

Homebound Vaccination 

In-home COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are available to residents unable to leave home due to age, disability, or medical reasons. Call Aging & Adult Services (AAS) at (844) 868-0938 to request an in-home vaccination appointment.

Proof of Vaccination 

The State of California has recently announced a digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal, which draws records from California’s immunization system. To receive digital proof of your vaccination, visit: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ and follow the instructions:

• Enter your name, date of birth, and an email or mobile phone number associated with your vaccination record
• Create a four-digit PIN. If the information you submitted matches the official record, you will receive a text or email with a link to your digital COVID-19 vaccine record
• Using the email or text you receive, enter your PIN to view your record

If you have any issues or questions, please contact the COVID-19 Hot Line at 833-422-4255.

Equity in Vaccine Distribution

San Mateo County and the state of California have made equity a key priority of local vaccine distribution.

Our communities of color, low-income communities, older adults, and other impacted populations face many barriers to vaccine acceptance and access. We are currently involved in a community engagement effort to learn from leaders closest to our most impacted communities. For more information about acknowledging the impact of medical distrust, click here. We look forward to hearing from community leaders about their needs and concerns so we can respond, plan accordingly, and adjust as we learn.

Read more about our focus on equity in vaccine distribution.

Have a Question Not Answered Here?

Email our vaccine liaison at: covidvax@smcgov.org