
Information and Guidance
The following resources are prepared for patients and the general public on the COVID-19 Vaccine. You can find relevant information under “Children Under Age 18” and “Adults Aged 18 and Older.” For more information about local COVID-19 vaccine efforts, visit SF.gov COVID-19 vaccine website.
Booster Specific Guidance for All
- Get Your Booster (SF.Gov)
- Information from San Francisco on who should get boosters, when and where to get them, and which type of booster to get.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots (CDC)
- National guidance on who can and should get a booster; how to choose a booster after being vaccinated in the US and outside the US.
Considerations in Choosing a COVID-19 Booster (SFDPH,Retired 1/10/22)
Vaccine Resources for People Under 18
General Overview of COVID-19 Vaccination:
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens
- Comprehensive information about COVID-19 vaccinations for children – reasons to vaccinate, benefits of vaccination, vaccine safety, what to expect during and after a vaccination appointment.
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination in Children
- Reviews why to vaccinate children; vaccine ingredients and safety; getting the vaccine; and information about the Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
- Key Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines
- Summary of general information for COVID-19 vaccines for all ages – where to get it, effectiveness, safety, side effects, variants, and more.
Specific Information about COVID-19 Vaccination Approved for Children:
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Overview and Safety
- Detailed information about Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) vaccine – for children ages 5 or older.
- Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
- Most recent updates and data on COVID-19 vaccinations and recommendations for special populations including immunocompromised, children, pregnancy and lactation.
Getting the Vaccine:
- How Do I Find a COVID-19 Vaccine – National
- How to find a vaccination provider; vaccinations are free.
- How Do I Get a COVID-19 vaccine – CA
- Official vaccine website for CA. Who, where, and how to get vaccinated.
- Before, During, and After Shots for Children
- General tips for parents on preparing for vaccination and supporting children during and after vaccination.
- Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine
- A general “what to expect” page when getting the COVID vaccination.
Vaccination Information specifically for San Francisco:
- COVID-19 Vaccine in San Francisco
- Who, where, and how to get the vaccine in San Francisco.
- Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine for Minors in San Francisco
- How to get the vaccine and vaccine tip sheet for minors in San Francisco.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Permission for minors in San Francisco
- Vaccination consent for young people (ages 12-17) in San Francisco.
Monitoring Post-Vaccination:
- What to Expect After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
- Common local and systemic side effects and how to relieve them.
- COVID-19 Guidelines for Post-Vaccination Symptoms (Santa Clara County, 3/6/2021)
- Guidelines for responding to vaccine sensitivity or reactions
- Rare Reported Adverse Events
- Selected adverse events reported after vaccination.
- V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker
- Information on vaccine side effect monitoring program.
Navigating Life After Being Fully-Vaccinated:
- When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
- How to protect yourself and others after vaccination.
- Families and COVID-19
- Information on vaccination for families, including consideration for underlying medical conditions; travel and activities; interactions with schools and caregivers; resources for mental health support.
- Families with Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Members
- Information for families with both vaccinated and unvaccinated members – how to protect unvaccinated members and those with underlying medical conditions; safer activities.
- Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Travel tips for vaccinated and unvaccinated; Tips for airline and cruise travel.
Other Resources:
- FAQ about COVID-19 vaccine – CA Government
- Info about vaccination to attend in-person schooling in California.
- Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5-11 with the SFDPH and UCSF General Pediatrics
- Video of Pediatric Town Hall in English (11/2/2021), Slides in English
- Video of Pediatric Town Hall in Cantonese (11/3/2021), Slides in Chinese
- Video of Pediatric Town Hall in Spanish (11/4/2021), Slides in Spanish
- COVID-19 symptoms in Children
- Degree of illness in children, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.
- All things COVID-19 Vaccine – CA Government
- Official vaccine website for CA. Who, Where, and How to get vaccinated.
- FDA: Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines, Explained
- Public information on the FDA process before granting emergency use authorization.
Vaccine Information & Resources for Adults Ages 18 and Older
General Overview of COVID-19 Vaccination:
- Key Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
- General information about COVID-19 vaccines for all ages – where to get it, effectiveness, safety, side effects, variants, and more.
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination (LA county)
- Extensive list of common questions about vaccine – boosters, safety in children and pregnancy, when, getting it with other vaccines, and more.
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC)
- Answers to common questions related to vaccination.
- Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
- Review of common misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Special Populations and Vaccination:
- Pregnancy and Vaccination
- Things you need to know about recommended vaccines and pregnancy; vaccines for family and caregivers.
- Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
- Most recent updates and data on COVID-19 vaccinations and recommendations for special populations including immunocompromised, pregnancy and lactation.
Information about Specific COVID-19 Vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine
- Moderna mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vector-based COVID-19 vaccine
Getting the Vaccine:
- Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine
- A general “what to expect” page when getting the COVID vaccination.
- How Do I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine – National
- How to find a vaccination provider; vaccinations are free.
- How Do I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine – CA
- Official vaccine website for CA. Who, where, and how to get vaccinated.
- How Do I get a COVID-19 Vaccine – San Francisco
- Who, where, and how to get the vaccine in San Francisco.
Monitoring Post-Vaccination:
- What to Expect After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
- Common local and systemic side effects and how to relieve them.
- Rare Reported Adverse Events
- Selected adverse events reported after vaccination.
- V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker
- Information on vaccine side effect monitoring program.
Life After Vaccination:
- When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
- How to protect yourself and others after vaccination.
- Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
- Recommendation for indoor and outdoor settings; travel; isolation and quarantine; and testing.
- The Possibility of COVID-19 after Vaccination: Breakthrough Infections
- Breakthrough infections; variants; and monitoring and reporting.
- Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Travel tips for vaccinated and unvaccinated; Tips for airline and cruise travel.
Orders and Directives from the SF Health Officer:
Safer Social Interactions Guidance:
- SFDPH Core Guidance for COVID-19 (SFDPH)
- Guidance for Organizing Large Events and Gatherings (CDC)
- Guidance for Holiday Celebrations and Gatherings (CDC)
COVID-19 Sexual Health Tips(Retired 04/27/2022)
Who is at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19? Which groups need to take extra precautions?
- People at increased risk: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html
- Medical conditions that increase risk: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
For more information on vaccinated individuals during the pandemic:
Safer Holiday Celebrations During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 7/20/21)
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions for Gatherings (SFDPH, Retired 6/1/2021)
Indoor Risk During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 1/31/2022)
- Interim Guidance: Traveling by Public Transit (SFDPH, Updated 1/27/22) [Spanish] [Chinese] [Filipino]
For more information on traveling during the pandemic:
Interim Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 At-Home Self-Testing (SFDPH, Retired 2/4/2022)
Other resources for testing at home:
- Self-Testing Guidance from the CDC
- How-to Video for the BinaxNOW home test
- Tips for Testing Children for SARS-CoV-2 At Home (SFDPH, 10/26/21)
For testing options in San Francisco, see sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options
Isolation and Quarantine Guidance (SFDPH)
- Return to work letter (SFDPH, 1/14/2022) [Chinese] [Spanish] [Russian] [Arabic] [Vietnamese] [Filipino]
- Notice of Updated Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine for SARS-CoV-2 (SFDPH, 12/31/2021)
- Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions: What to do when you must stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (SFDPH, 1/4/22)
- (FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS) Home Quarantine Instructions for Under 18 – What to do if your child had close contact with someone with COVID-19 (SFDPH, 1/24/22) [Chinese] [Spanish] [Filipino] [Vietnamese] [Russian] [Arabic]
- CDC Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated Individuals (CDC)
- California Department of Public Health guidance on testing
- California Department of Public Health guidance for fully vaccinated individuals
- CDC guidance on what to do when you are sick (Also has printout in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese)
The following have been consolidated into the SFDPH Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.
Home Isolation and Quarantine Instructions (SFDPH, Retired 7/30/21)- I
nterim Guidance: Ending Isolation or Returning to Work for Those Who Have Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (SFDPH,Retired 7/28/21) Guidance on Quarantine Duration for Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases (SFDPH,Retired 7/28/21)Frequently Asked Questions for Workers Who Must Isolate or Quarantine Due to COVID-19 (SFDPH,Retired 7/28/21)(BOOKLET VERSION) Caring for yourself and others during COVID-19: Testing, Isolation and Quarantine (SFDPHRetired 7/30/21)
- For Ventilation Guidance, see CDPH Interim Guidance for Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality in Indoor Environments
- CDC Interactive Ventilation Tool
FAQs: General Ventilation (SFDPH,Retired 10/8/21)Ventilation for Non-Healthcare Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH,Retired 10/8/21)FAQs: Room Air Exchange Rates (“Air Changes per Hour (ACH)”) (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)Interim Guidance: Ventilation During the COVID-19 Pandemic (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)FAQs: Portable Air Cleaners (SFDPH, Retired 10/8/21)
Facility and/or Business Cleaning Recommendations
Household Cleaning Recommendations
PPE recommendations for healthcare workers, see www.sfcdcp.org/hcpPPE
PPE guidance for the general public:
- Get the Most of out Masking – CDPH
- Up-to-date masking guidance and requirements for CA
- Good, Better, Best Protection Against COVID-19 with Masking
- FAQ on Face Shields – practical do’s and don’ts of face shield use
- Face Mask Q&A
- FAQs: Best Practices for Masking Compliance (SFDPH, Updated 7/30/21) [Chinese] [Spanish] [Filipino]
- How to make a mask-friendly environment; strategies to address mask refusal
- CDC Guide to Masks: select, wear, clean, store masks
- Improve How Your Mask Protects You – optimize fit and filtration, double masking
- Type of Masks and Respirators – masks, respirators, considerations for children, alternative masks for special situations, choosing a mask or respirator for higher risk situations
Should the general public wear an N95 respirator or KN95?
Properly fitted N95 respirators (meet NIOSH standard) or KN95 respirators (meet international standard) offer additional protection from the COVID-19 virus which can get past other types of face coverings. Some occupations have regulations that require the use of N95 respirators given the risks involved in the work (e.g., healthcare workers). Even if your occupation doesn’t require or have a standard to use N95 respirators, you may want to consider using an N95 respirator or KN95 respirator for extra protection especially if you are unvaccinated for COVID-19 AND:
- Must be in a higher risk situation such as being indoors with someone who has COVID-19 or was a close contact of someone with COVID-19
- Are at higher risk of severe illness if you get COVID-19 due to age or underlying medical conditions (see sfcdcp.org/vulnerable)
- Must be in higher-risk situations where you can’t practice ideal safety precautions such as if you must be indoors and can’t maintain 6 feet distance or you must be indoors around people who are unmasked. Examples include:
- Being indoors around unmasked individuals (e.g., dining, personal services where masks are removed, public transit, etc.)
- Entering indoor settings where people have been unmasked (e.g., dining, hotel room service, janitors, personal services, etc.)
- Being indoors with exposure to a high volume of masked people throughout the day (high volume grocery store workers, high volume retail workers, transit operators)
- Being outdoors around unmasked individuals and at least 6 feet of distance is not maintained (e.g., outdoor dining, personal services where masks are removed, etc.)
Please be aware that to work effectively to prevent COVID-19, NIOSH-certified N95 masks should be tightly fitted around your face. An N95 mask is not for everyone, is not designed for children, and will increase the work of breathing, which may make it difficult to wear for long periods of time. If you feel worse wearing an N95 mask, do not wear one.
More Information about Respirators (CDC) – Types of respirators, beware of counterfeit KN95s
How to Properly Put On and Take Off A Disposable Respirator – includes checking the seal
Respirator Medical Evaluations and N95 Fit Testing Resources (SFDPH, Retired 1/31/2022)
- CDC – Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns
- CDC – Pregnancy and Vaccination
- CDC- Pregnant People and increased risk
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Coronavirus (COVID-19), Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: A Message for Patients
- American Academy of Pediatricians – Tips for Coping with a New Baby During COVID-19
Safer Voting and Ballot Delivery (SFDPH, Retired 4/29/21)
FAQ for Electioneering (SFDPH, Retired 4/29/21)
Interim Guidance and FAQ: Congregate Housing Where Residents have Private Rooms (SFDPH, Retired 7/20/2021)
See guidance for elder and residential care facilities administration.
- Considerations for Owners and Operators of Multifamily Housing during the COVID-19 Pandemic (CDC)
- See Cleaning Recommendation
FAQs for Occupied Apartments and Residences with Sublet Rooms (SFDPH, Retired 1/31/2022)
See the SF.GOV Outreach Toolkit for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Coping with Relationship Stress During COVID-19 (SFDPH, 5/19/2020) [Chinese] [Spanish] [Vietnamese]
- Print Resources from CDC (some are highlighted below):