COVID 19 Vaccine Updates
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VACCINE APPOINTMENTS
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Updated: December 22,2022
Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters for young children 6 months and up are here!
Bivalent vaccines are available for eligible children 6 months and up. The eligibility for bivalent vaccines will depend on the initial primary series started by children 6 months to 5 years old:
- Children ages 6 months through 4 years who completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a single bivalent Moderna booster at least 2 months after completion of the primary series.
- Children who are 5 years old and completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive either a Pfizer bivalent booster (for ages 5-11) or the new bivalent Moderna booster (for ages 6 months to 5 years), at least 2 months after completion of the Moderna primary series.
- Children ages 6 months through 4 years old who have not completed their 3-dose Pfizer primary series should receive the monovalent Pfizer vaccine for doses 1 and 2, and the bivalent Pfizer vaccine for dose 3.
- Children ages 6 months through 4 years who have completed all 3 doses of their Pfizer primary series are not eligible for any bivalent vaccine at this time.
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Children who are 5 years old and completed a Pfizer primary series are
eligible to receive a Pfizer bivalent booster (for ages 5-11).
Talk to your child's doctor TODAY to ask for the vaccine. Your child's doctor can vaccinate them for COVID-19 and make sure they are up to date on other vaccinations.
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
The County of Santa Clara is now providing COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 6 months and older.
Parents and legal guardians can book an appointment or find a convenient drop-in location to vaccinate their child. Vaccines for children are smaller doses and are specially formulated for kids. Under federal guidelines, vaccine supplies designated for older patients cannot be used for this younger age group. Families are also encouraged to check with their primary care physician or their local pharmacy to see if they are offering vaccine appointments for children.
While COVID-19 infection tends to be milder in children compared to adults, it can make children very sick and cause hospitalization. In some situations, children can experience severe complications including death.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children...
To learn more, go to the County of Santa Clara Public Health Website here.
The COVID-19 Vaccines are safe, effective, and free to everyone ages 6 months and up
Regardless of immigration or insurance status.
New bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, also referred to as “updated COVID-19 boosters” or "Omicron boosters" are available for individuals ages 6 months and up. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get an updated bivalent vaccine dose, if eligible.
VACCINE ELIGIBILITY
Updated: December 22,2022
COVID-19 booster shots: The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department recommends all eligible
members of the public who live or work in Santa Clara County receive an
updated COVID-19 booster shot.
Additional Doses for immunocompromised Patients:
- Additional Doses for immunocompromised patients who received Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson: Additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for patients who are at least 28 days from their final dose of a Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson primary series and who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
- Immunocompromised patients 6 months through 4 years who received the Pfizer vaccine are recommended to receive a 3-dose primary series (2 monovalent doses and 1 bivalent dose).
- Immunocompromised patients 6 months and older who completed a Moderna primary series, and immunocompromised patients 5 years and older who completed a Pfizer primary series may receive an additional (third) dose of an age-appropriate monovalent Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose. The additional dose should match the original vaccine series (for example, if you completed the Pfizer primary vaccine series, you will receive an additional dose of Pfizer). To ensure that you receive the correct vaccine, please bring a copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record to your appointment.
- Immunocompromised patients ages 18 years and older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine may receive an additional dose of the monovalent Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days later.
- Patients who receive an additional dose should wait at least 2 months before receiving a bivalent booster.
At this time, additional doses have not been authorized for people who received the Novavax vaccine. If you are not sure whether you qualify for an additional dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, please consult with your physician.
VACCINE APPOINTMENTS
New appointments are regularly added by the County of Santa Clara Health
System and other providers. Vaccines are free. Documentation (like an
ID or SSN) is not required.
Individuals who are eligible to be vaccinated are encouraged, but not required, to contact their healthcare system to make an appointment. Many providers below are able to vaccinate patients regardless of their regular healthcare provider.
We recommend eligible patients with internet access use the online scheduling portal options on www.sccfreevax.org. Eligible patients without internet access should call the Santa Clara County Health Department COVID Vaccination Line at (408) 970-2000 for assistance scheduling their vaccine.
Vaccine Safety
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. No matter which brand name vaccine you receive, all COVID-19 vaccines are safe and authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA). The vaccines were developed quickly due to a solid foundation of existing research and development on other strains of coronavirus. The vaccines meet all safety standards and are recommended by health experts and doctors. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine safety from the CDC.
We strongly recommend that you continue to wear a mask, stay at least six feet apart from others, continue to wash your hands, and refrain from leaving your home until vaccinations are no longer limited.
Transportation to Vaccine Locations
The County and VTA are providing a free, door-to-door service to transport individuals to their vaccine appointments. Accessible VTA paratransit vehicles will pick individuals up, take them to their appointment, wait for them, and then provide the return trip. Anyone for whom transportation is a barrier to getting vaccinated can utilize this service, 7 days per week. Find out more at https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-vaccine-information.
COVID-19 Local Guidance
To stay informed of current guidance on testing and vaccinations during the pandemic please visit the SCC Public Health, CDC and other local resources:
Santa Clara County Public Health Department
SF Chronicle: (including Coronavirus Tracker)
SCCIPA HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
- More Telemedicine Updates 3/18/2020
- Shelter In Place, Elective Procedures & Telemedicine Updates 3/16/2020
TELEMEDICINE UPDATES 3/18/2020
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, CMS broadened access to telehealth services on a temporary and emergency basis to Medicare beneficiaries so they can receive services from their doctors without having to travel to a doctor’s office. With the emergence of COVID-19, the expanding use of technology allows people to maintain access to care while limiting community spread of the virus. SCCIPA wishes to ensure patient access to care is maintained during this health crisis and will reimburse providers for telehealth services for both Commercial HMO and Medicare Advantage patients alike.
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Importantly, the CDC has updated information for healthcare professionals. We encourage you to check their website regularly for the latest advice: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html.
If you have any questions, please contact your Provider Relations Representative, or email us at providersrv@PPMSI.com