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The news of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout late last year was a welcome sign for many that the pandemic’s end could be in sight. But the process has gone slower than hoped for initially, and confusion abounds as state and local leaders expand eligibility. Below is a list of who can currently get vaccinated in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, plus answers to common questions and links to resources. We will update and add to this page as more information becomes available.
San Mateo County
San Mateo County is vaccinating residents ages 6 months and up. Booster shots of the three available vaccines are available to the following groups:
• Pfizer-BioNTech: People ages 5 and up who completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago.
• Moderna: Adults who completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago.
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson: Adults who completed their primary vaccination series at least two months ago.
Mixing and matching vaccines is not encouraged for adolescents.
The county is providing second booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to people ages 50 and older and certain people with immune deficiencies, which was authorized by the FDA and CDC on March 29, 2022. San Mateo County Health recommends those who qualify to schedule an appointment with their primary health care provider or pharmacy to avoid long wait times. Walk-ins will also be accepted at the county’s community clinics.
On July 19, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the use of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is the fourth available in the U.S. San Mateo County Health has not issued a public statement regarding its plans for distributing the Novavax vaccine. For more information, visit the county’s vaccination webpage.
Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County is vaccinating residents ages 6 months and up. Booster shots of the three available vaccines are available to the following groups:
• Pfizer-BioNTech: People ages 5 and up who completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago.
• Moderna: Adults who completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago.
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson: Adults who completed their primary vaccination series at least two months ago.
Mixing and matching vaccines is not encouraged for adolescents.
The county is providing second booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to people ages 50 and older and certain people with immune deficiencies, which was authorized by the FDA and CDC on March 29, 2022.
On July 20, 2022, Santa Clara County announced that it plans to offer Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine to the public once supplies arrive. For more information, visit the county’s vaccination webpage.
Vaccine information from health care providers
Kaiser Permanente
Visit Kaiser Permanente’s website for the latest information on vaccine priorities and how to get a vaccine when you meet the criteria, or call their 24/7 recorded message hotline at 855‑550‑0951 (available in English and Spanish) for regular updates. Members will receive email updates on the vaccines by registering at kp.org. For more information, visit kp.org/coronavirus.
Stanford Health Care
Vaccine eligibility depends on your county of residence, age and in some cases your occupation. At this time, established primary care patients with Stanford Health Care who meet the following criteria may schedule a vaccination via MyHealth or by calling 650-498-9000.
Due to frequent updates and expanding eligible populations, Stanford encourages patients to visit its website for the most up-to-date information.
Sutter Health/Palo Alto Medical Foundation
If Sutter Health (which includes Palo Alto Medical Foundation) is your health care provider, you can contact the Sutter vaccine appointment system online at sutterhealth.org/covid-vaccine and by phone at 844-987-6115. Members can select from either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but may face a reduced number of available appointments.
Commonly asked questions
When can I get the vaccine?
The state has a vaccination plan which outlines guidance for counties on who should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations. Eligibility was originally broken down by tiers. Now, vaccinations are open to residents ages 16 and up. Those ages 12-15 can also schedule vaccination appointments for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Most Californians will be vaccinated at community vaccination sites, doctor’s offices, clinics or pharmacies.
Counties may also be at different stages of the vaccination plan. For more information, view the San Mateo and Santa Clara county-specific sections above..
What vaccines are currently being distributed?
Doses of three COVID-19 vaccines are currently being issued across the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration fully approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine on Aug. 23, 2021 and Moderna’s vaccine on Jan. 31, 2022. Both vaccines are administered through two doses. Pfizer-BioNTech’s doses are given 21 days apart and Moderna’s doses are provided 28 days apart. The FDA gave emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine on Feb. 27, 2021. In July 2022, the FDA and CDC approved the use of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine as a two-shot series administered three weeks apart.
Do I qualify for booster shot?
The CDC and FDA has approved booster shots for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johson vaccines. An extra shot of the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available for those ages 65 and older and people ages 12 to 64 who are at higher risk of serious illness because of medical conditions or the nature of their job as outlined by the CDC. Those eligible for boosters are advised to get them at least five months after receiving their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster is available to adults at least two months after their initial single dose, according to the CDC.
As of July 2022, Novavax’s vaccine is not available as a booster shot.
California has gone beyond the CDC’s recommendations by allowing booster shots for adults who completed their initial vaccination series at least six months ago.
The CDC recommends an additional dose for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised at least 28 days after their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. There isn’t sufficient data on whether an immunocompromised person who initially received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would see an increased antibody response after an additional dose of the same vaccine.
Those eligible for a booster dose can select from any of the three available vaccines, as the CDC has allowed for “mix and match dosing.” The booster dose won’t be dependent upon the brand of vaccine that a recipient previously received during their initial inoculations.
California’s MyTurn vaccination scheduling tool has a booster eligibility page that will send alerts to state residents if they are eligible.
In Santa Clara County, boosters are available at five large-scale vaccination sites for eligible individuals who live, work or attend school in the county. A complete list of county vaccination locations is available below. See hours of operation and sign up for an appointment at sccfreevax.org. Many doctors’ offices and pharmacies are also now offering COVID-19 boosters, according to the county.
“We now understand that the protection from the initial vaccine series may decrease over time, and a booster shot is highly effective in preventing serious hospitalization and death,” county Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said in a press release.
Officials strongly recommended booster shots for people who are at least 65 years old, ages 50 and older with an underlying medical condition and adults who live in a long-term care facility. They called on vaccinated adults who have an underlying medical condition or are at risk of COVID-19 exposure because of an occupational or institutional setting to consider getting a booster.
Santa Clara County locations offering boosters include:
• North County, 435 San Antonio Road, Mountain View
• Valley Health Care, Gilroy clinic, 7475 Camino Arroyo, Gilroy
• San Martin vaccination site, 90 W. Highland Ave., San Martin
• Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Expo Hall, 2542 Monterey Road, San Jose
• Valley Health Care, Specialty Center, 751 Bascom Ave., San Jose
An updated list of vaccination clinics in San Mateo County can be found at smchealth.org/vaccine-clinic-calendar.
Does the vaccine have any reported side effects?
People may experience pain or swelling in the area where they received the shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may also come down with a fever, chills, headache and fatigue. The side effects could be similar to the flu, but should dissipate days after receiving the shot.
If you notice redness or tenderness grows in the spot where the shot was administered after 24 hours or the side effects persist after a few days, the CDC recommends contacting your doctor or health care provider.
How does the vaccine work?
The vaccine contains a small piece of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus’ messenger RNA (mRNA), which is a piece of genetic material that instructs cells in the body to make the virus’ distinctive “spike” protein. The body of a person who receives the vaccine produces copies of the spike protein, which triggers the immune system to react defensively and produce an immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.
The FDA noted there isn’t data to determine how long the vaccine will provide protection, nor is there evidence that the vaccine prevents transmission of the virus from person to person.
How much will the vaccine cost?
COVID-19 vaccines, including their administration, are free, according to the state.
Once I’m vaccinated, am I fully protected from COVID-19?
Currently, researchers are still investigating how long a vaccinated individual will be immune from the disease, according to the CDC. There is a risk of contracting the virus shortly after receiving the vaccine because it can take a few weeks to build up a sufficient amount of the lymphocytes that help fight COVID-19. Health leaders say until the data says otherwise, vaccinated people still need to take safety precautions against COVID-19, including wearing face coverings, washing their hands and practicing social distancing.
Can I sign up somewhere to be notified when I am eligible for the vaccine?
The state has launched the My Turn COVID-19 vaccination system to let people know if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if not yet eligible, to register for a notification via email or text when they are eligible. For more information, visit myturn.ca.gov.
Have more questions on the COVID-19 vaccines and latest rollout plans? Send them by email to editor@paweekly.com and we’ll do our best to get them answered.
Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula’s response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.
“ Once I’m vaccinated, am I fully protected from COVID-19?
No. Health leaders say people still need to continue taking safety precautions against COVID-19, including wearing face coverings, washing their hands and practicing social distancing”
This deserves an explanation, or at least a reference to the source of this statement.
@awatkins Thanks for your excellent suggestion. We’ve expanded the answer to that question and included links.
At the risk of having my comment deleted because it it too long here is the answer to your question:
5 Reasons to Wear a Mask Even After You’re Vaccinated
Liz Szabo
January 15, 2021
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
As an emergency physician, Dr. Eugenia South was in the first group of people to receive a covid vaccine. She received her second dose last week — even before President-elect Joe Biden.
Yet South said she’s in no rush to throw away her face mask.
“I honestly don’t think I’ll ever go without a mask at work again,” said South, faculty director of the Urban Health Lab at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe doing that.”
And although covid vaccines are highly effective, South plans to continue wearing her mask outside the hospital as well.
Health experts say there are good reasons to follow her example.
“Masks and social distancing will need to continue into the foreseeable future — until we have some level of herd immunity,” said Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer at the University of Michigan. “Masks and distancing are here to stay.”
Malani and other health experts explained five reasons Americans should hold on to their masks:
1. No vaccine is 100% effective.
Large clinical trials found that two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines prevented 95% of illnesses caused by the coronavirus. While those results are impressive, 1 in 20 people are left unprotected, said Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Malani notes that vaccines were tested in controlled clinical trials at top medical centers, under optimal conditions.
In the real world, vaccines are usually slightly less effective. Scientists use specific terms to describe the phenomenon. They refer to the protection offered by vaccines in clinical trials as “efficacy,” while the actual immunity seen in a vaccinated population is “effectiveness.”
The effectiveness of covid vaccines could be affected by the way they’re handled, Malani said. The genetic material used in mRNA vaccines — made with messenger RNA from the coronavirus — is so fragile that it has to be carefully stored and transported.
Any variation from the CDC’s strict guidance could influence how well vaccines work, Malani said.
2. Vaccines don’t provide immediate protection.
No vaccine is effective right away, Malani said. It takes about two weeks for the immune system to make the antibodies that block viral infections.
Covid vaccines will take a little longer than other inoculations, such as the flu shot, because both the Moderna and Pfizer products require two doses. The Pfizer shots are given three weeks apart; the Moderna shots, four weeks apart.
In other words, full protection won’t arrive until five or six weeks after the first shot. So, a person vaccinated on New Year’s Day won’t be fully protected until Valentine’s Day.
3. COVID vaccines may not prevent you from spreading the virus.
Vaccines can provide two levels of protection. The measles vaccine prevents viruses from causing infection, so vaccinated people don’t spread the infection or develop symptoms.
Most other vaccines — including flu shots — prevent people from becoming sick but not from becoming infected or passing the virus to others, said Dr. Paul Offit, who advises the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration on covid vaccines.
While covid vaccines clearly prevent illness, researchers need more time to figure out whether they prevent transmission, too, said Phoenix-based epidemiologist Saskia Popescu, an assistant professor in the biodefense program at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.
“We don’t yet know if the vaccine protects against infection, or only against illness,” said Frieden, now CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a global public health initiative. “In other words, a vaccinated person might still be able to spread the virus, even if they don’t feel sick.”
Until researchers can answer that question, Frieden said, wearing masks is the safest way for vaccinated people to protect those around them.
4. Masks protect people with compromised immune systems.
People with cancer are at particular risk from covid. Studies show they’re more likely than others to become infected and die from the virus, but may not be protected by vaccines, said Dr. Gary Lyman, a professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Cancer patients are vulnerable in multiple ways. People with lung cancer are less able to fight off pneumonia, while those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment have weakened immune systems. Leukemia and lymphoma attack immune cells directly, which makes it harder for patients to fight off the virus.
Doctors don’t know much about how people with cancer will respond to vaccines, because they were excluded from randomized trials, Lyman said. Only a handful of study participants were diagnosed with cancer after enrolling. Among those people, covid vaccines protected only 76%.
Although the vaccines appear safe, “prior studies with other vaccines raise concerns that immunosuppressed patients, including cancer patients, may not mount as great an immune response as healthy patients,” Lyman said. “For now, we should assume that patients with cancer may not experience the 95% efficacy.”
Some people aren’t able to be vaccinated.
While most people with allergies can receive covid vaccines safely, the CDC advises those who have had severe allergic reactions to vaccine ingredients, including polyethylene glycol, to avoid vaccination. The agency also warns people who have had dangerous allergic reactions to a first vaccine dose to skip the second.
Lyman encourages people to continue wearing masks to protect those with cancer and others who won’t be fully protected.
5. Masks protect against any strain of the coronavirus, in spite of genetic mutations.
Global health leaders are extremely concerned about new genetic variants of the coronavirus, which appear to be at least 50% more contagious than the original.
So far, studies suggest vaccines will still work against these new strains.
One thing is clear: Public health measures — such as avoiding crowds, physical distancing and masks — reduce the risk of contracting all strains of the coronavirus, as well as other respiratory diseases, Frieden said. For example, the number of flu cases worldwide has been dramatically lower since countries began asking citizens to stay home and wear masks.
“Masks will remain effective,” Malani said. “But careful and consistent use will be essential.”
The best hope for ending the pandemic isn’t to choose between masks, physical distancing and vaccines, Offit said, but to combine them. “The three approaches work best as a team,” he said.