Coronavirus Information (COVID-19)
The San Francisco Department of Public Health is working closely with all City departments to: implement strategies to prevent infection, especially in the most vulnerable populations and in healthcare and other essential workers; enact community mitigation efforts to slow transmission; expand COVID-19 testing; and increase hospital capacity to care for the sick.
Thinking about Next Flu Season
The winter 2019-20 influenza season has ended. During late spring and summer 2020, while “the flu” is “out of season,” persons who have flu-like symptoms — fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, headache and muscle aches — are more likely to have COVID-19 and should seek COVID-19 testing.
The 2020-21 annual flu vaccine will be available for the public starting August-September 2020. Everyone age 6 months and older should have a yearly flu vaccine. The vaccine protects everyone’s health — it prevents individuals from getting sick, limits the spread of flu from person to person, and reduces the chance of hospitalization. And, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues through the rest of 2020, it will be more important than ever to get a flu vaccine.
For more information on influenza including information for providers, visit our influenza home page.
Babies, Toddlers, Children, Teens: Are Your Vaccines Up to Date?
National data show that vaccination of children has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic As San Francisco cautiously begins to re-open childcare centers, summer camps and public gardens, children who are not protected by vaccines will be more vulnerable to diseases such as measles.
Parents: Please contact your child’s healthcare provider to arrange for an office visit that includes catching up on CDC-recommended vaccines.
Pediatric Healthcare Providers: Please identify infants and children who have missed or are now due for recommended vaccinations and contact them to schedule in-person appointments. CDC-recommended vaccinations are encouraged and are permitted as “essential” appointments under section 15 of Public Health Emergency Order C19-08b. Additional guidance about this Order will be forthcoming.