Isolation can end after 5 full days if you've had:

• No fever for the last 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine (like Tylenol or Ibuprofen); AND
• No symptoms are present; or symptoms are improving

A negative antigen test is no longer needed to exit isolation after five days. 

If you have a fever, continue to isolate until 24-hours after your fever resolves. If you have symptoms other than fever, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.

To learn more, visit slopublichealth.org/iq.

Yes. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, you must mask around others for ten full days. This means avoiding situations where you would need to take off your mask around others, such as dining in restaurants. Both masking and testing are important tools to help protect those around you. To learn more, visit slopublichealth.org/iq.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19:

• Wear a mask around others for ten full days.
• On day five after the exposure, get tested. 
• If your school or work do not require you to quarantine, you do not need to stay home as long as you mask around others for ten days AND have no symptoms.

If you develop symptoms: 

• Isolate
• Get tested right away. 

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/iq. 

A small number of people who recover from COVID-19 may experience “COVID-19 rebound” in which symptoms return and you test positive again, after testing negative. This brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural course of the illness. Though reported cases have been patients who completed treatment of antiviral pills (Paxlovid), COVID-19 rebound may be independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status. If this happens to you, regardless of treatment or vaccination, you should re-start your isolation period and contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns. If you do not have a regular health care provider, you may contact the Public Health Department at 805-781-5500.

COVID-19 testing is a strong tool to help limit the spread of disease. Getting tested for COVID-19 helps you get connected with lifesaving treatment and also helps protect others. Knowing you have COVID-19 is important in case you experience Long COVID symptoms weeks to months later; it is important knowledge for getting help. Learn more at slopublichealth.org/testing.

Testing is available at pharmacies, urgent cares, and other health care providers. See a list of testing sites at slopublichealth.org/testing. 

At-home rapid antigen tests can also be acquired at no expense through the federal government and through all health insurance plans, including employer plans, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Covered CA plans. They are also available for purchase at many pharmacies and retailers. If you do not have insurance, contact Public Health online or at 805-781-5500 to connect with rapid tests at no cost.  

If you prefer PCR tests for their reliability, but don’t want to pay out of pocket, an acceptable alternative is to use two rapid tests 48 hours apart. (This will help detect the virus if you are in fact infected). Learn how to find free at-home rapid tests at slopublichealth.org/testing. 

The expiration date has been extended by the FDA for many COVID-19 at-home rapid tests. You can check your test kit’s new expiration date by entering the brand and lot number here, bit.ly/check-tests.

Antiviral pills are available by prescription at local pharmacies and at participating Test to Treat sites. This medication been shown to lower the risk of hospitalization and death in people who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. They are most effective when taken in the first five days of illness -- the sooner, the better.

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/treatments 

Many locations in SLO County offer treatment for COVID-19: urgent cares, pharmacies, other healthcare providers, and—for severe COVID-19—hospitals.

To find treatment quickly, consider visiting a participating Test to Treat location: rapid testing, medical consult, and prescription all in one visit. For more information, including locations, visit slopublichealth.org/testing.

If you cannot find quick care or cannot leave your home, you could book a free telehealth appointment.

Yes. If you do not have insurance or are unable to connect with your regular health care provider quickly, you should look into a free telehealth appointment. You may be prescribed Paxlovid and can have it picked up at the chosen pharmacy.

Test to Treat services include rapid testing for COVID-19, a medical consultation as appropriate, and Paxlovid anti-viral pills, if indicated.

A number of urgent cares, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers around the county offer Test to Treat. These services are intended for people aged 50 and older and those with health conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19. If you are at high risk and experience symptoms, don't delay: this treatment must be started within five days of first symptoms. 

For more information, including locations, visit slopublichealth.org/testing.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages four and younger: 

• Pediatricians: Your pediatrician's office is a great first stop. Call for an appointment or for answers to questions about the vaccine.

• Pharmacies (ages 3+): Some pharmacies are offering vaccine to children as young as three. Check vaccinefinder.org: 1-800-232-0233 or call ahead to your local pharmacy.

• Public Health Clinics: Our Public Health clinics have appointments available for this age group. Call (805) 781-5500 to schedule.

Getting vaccinated is the safest and best way to protect yourself against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and very effective at protecting you from COVID-19, without having to encounter the virus and potentially get very sick.

Vaccines teach our bodies how to recognize the virus before we come into contact with it and produces antibodies that protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.

Currently, there are three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US: Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. Research shows all three vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
• Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet 

mRNA vaccine technology has been studied since the 1990s and works by teaching cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response inside your body. This immune response tells your body to produce infection-fighting antibodies, specifically designed to protect you from COVID-19.

mRNA vaccines do not affect or interact with DNA in any way, and break down and exit your body within a few days.

Both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines which have been fully approved by the FDA.

Mild side effects such as arm soreness, headache, or fatigue are normal following the vaccine. In most cases, it is okay to take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help manage these types of symptoms after you get your vaccine. Talk more with your primary care doctor if you have concerns. 

Mild side effects after you get the vaccine are normal and indicate that your body is building protection against the virus.  

Common side effects include pain or swelling where you got the shot, fatigue, headache, or fever. These side effects should last no longer than a few days. To reduce pain or discomfort, you should talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. 

Read more about what to expect after getting the vaccine.  

While the COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19, it is still possible to become infected after being vaccinated. These are called “breakthrough” infections. 

In general, a person with a breakthrough COVID-19 infection: 
• Will experience less intense symptoms 
• Will be sick for a shorter period of time 
• Is less likely to be hospitalized 

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to maintain strong protection.  

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines. 

Those currently infected with COVID-19 need to wait to get vaccinated until after their illness has resolved and they have met criteria to discontinue isolation.  Anyone who is currently sick with any illness should fully recover (wait at least 11 days) before getting a vaccine dose.

Still not sure if you are up to date? Check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age.

If you have had an allergic reaction to other types of vaccines, you should consult your doctor to see if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Your doctor will help you decide if it is safe for you to get vaccinated.

If you have had an allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate, you should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Polysorbate is not an ingredient in either mRNA COVID-19 vaccine but is closely related to PEG, an ingredient in the vaccines.* (CDC – allergies) 

Yes—COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines on the same day.  

Learn more: Coadministration with other vaccines – CDC.  

Still not sure if you are up to date? Check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age.

Vaccines: Currently, there are three COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US to help prevent you from getting COVID-19. For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

Personal protection measures: Help reduce your risk of infection. Learn more (CDC).

The CDC recommends all people ages 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19, including people who were previously infected with the virus. COVID-19 vaccines can provide a higher, more robust, and more consistent level of immunity to protect people from COVID-19 than antibodies from infection alone. 

COVID-19 vaccination is effective in preventing reinfection in people who previously had COVID-19. One study, for example, showed that among people hospitalized with COVID-19, those who were previously infected with COVID-19 were 5 times more likely to get COVID-19 again if they were unvaccinated than people who were fully vaccinated. For that reason, even if you have already had COVID-19, vaccination is an important step to protect yourself and those around you.

Still not sure if you are up to date? Check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age.

Vaccine fact sheets are available here:

• Pfizer Vaccine Factsheet - June 2022 (ca.gov)
• Moderna Vaccine Factsheet - June 2022 (ca.gov)
• Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Factsheet - July 2022 (FDA) 

This fact sheet from CDPH also provides a helpful overview:

• Vaccination is Recommended for People Aged 6 months and Older June 2022 (ca.gov)

There are now updated booster doses (bivalent, or “Omicron booster”).

People ages five and older are eligible for the updated booster two months after their most recent dose (even if they already received the original booster).

Children under five who have completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series are eligible for a bivalent booster two months after completing the series.

Children who have received the first two doses of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may receive the bivalent vaccine as the third dose of the three-dose series. 

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Still not sure if you are up to date? Check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age. 

People ages five and older are eligible for the updated booster two months after their most recent dose (even if they already received the original booster).

Children under five who have completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series are eligible for a bivalent booster two months after completing the series.

Children who have received the first two doses of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may receive the bivalent vaccine as the third dose of the three-dose series. 

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Still not sure if you are up to date? Check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age.

Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines offer specific protection against variants that are circulating now. Real-world evidence has shown that the boosters provide significant additional protection against symptomatic COVID-19. 

For some viruses, the protection we receive from a vaccine starts to wane over time. An additional dose of vaccine may be needed to boost your immune response and make sure you are protected from the virus. Boosters are common for many vaccines, including the tetanus shot. 

Learn more on our COVID-19 vaccines and boosters webpage. 

COVID-19 vaccine appointments, including primary series and booster doses, now have an office fee of $10.00 each that can be covered by insurance, including Medi-Cal and Medicare. Public Health clinics serve all patients, regardless of ability to pay. 

At our mobile vaccine clinics, COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge. 

In other settings like pharmacies and doctor’s offices, COVID-19 vaccines themselves are free of charge but providers may charge an administrative fee, so reach out in advance to learn more.  

To get a new vaccine card, walk in to any one of our vaccine-providing Public Health Clinics, bring your photo I.D., and the team there can re-write you a new one. You may also call us at (805) 781-5500 and we can mail you one.

You can also now access a digital copy of your vaccination record if you got vaccinated in California. If you want to share your proof of vaccination, you can either use the digital version or the card you were given at the time of your vaccination.Visit myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov for a digital copy.

You can book 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and booster-dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments by calling 805-781-5500 (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm). Or, request online and someone from our office will call to confirm your appointment with you. 

You can also visit vaccinefinder.org or text your ZIP code to ‘438829’ to find vaccine appointments available through other community providers and pharmacies

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines

Call Public Health at 805-781-5500, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines

• To show that you are eligible for vaccine, please bring documentation showing your age, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, etc.  
• Please also print, fill out, and bring your completed screening form / forumulario de examen para vacunas with you to your appointment. 
• Note: You do not need to be a United States citizen to receive the vaccine. We will never ask about citizenship or immigration status.    

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines

While Public Health clinics have previously accepted walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccination, appointments are now required. Please call 805-781-5500 to schedule an appointment at Public Health, or request one online and someone from Public Health will call you to confirm the time and location. 

Individuals without access to a computer, email, or mobile phone can receive assistance by calling Public Health at 805-781-5500.

For more information, visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines

• Residents 75 and older: Rides are available for eligible residents age 75 and older, as well as current RTA Runabout riders, who need door-to-door transportation to a vaccination site. Once you have booked your vaccine appointment, you will be given a phone number to schedule a no-cost roundtrip if you are eligible.

• Residents with a disability: SLO County residents with a disability can get connected with transportation resources through the Independent Living Resource Center. Call their San Luis Obispo office at 805-462-1162 for more information about transportation resources that may be available to you.

• Residents on CenCal/Medi-Cal: CenCal members can receive free/paid transportation to a County vaccine clinic if they have an appointment. Members must call 48-hours before the appointment is scheduled. Members and providers may contact Ventura Transit System (VTS) directly at (855) 659-4600 for transportation services, or call CenCal Health's Member Services Department at 1 (877) 814-1861 for assistance.
• Residents who are homebound: Community members who are homebound and cannot easily visit a vaccination clinic can request a home COVID-19 vaccine where a nurse can provide vaccination at home. Request a visit by filling out this form: slopublichealth.org/homevaccine

Request a vaccine at your home, here.

Yes. It is safe and convenient to get both a COVID-19 vaccine dose and the annual influenza (flu) vaccine at the same appointment. Some doctor's offices, pharmacies, or even Public Health Clinics can administer both simultaneously, one in each arm. Let the provider know you would like both (it is helpful to bring your COVID-19 vaccine record card).

In October 2021, the State of California announced that COVID-19 vaccines would be added to the list of required school vaccinations for students and teachers after the vaccines received full FDA approval for relevant age groups.

Since then, CDPH has specified that any COVID-19 vaccine requirement would not take effect until after full FDA approval and no sooner than July 1, 2023 (Statement on Timeline for COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements in Schools).

On July 8, 2022, Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY, received full FDA approval for ages 12+.

For more information and to stay updated about COVID-19 vaccines in K-12 schools, click here. 

• For 6-23 month olds, irritability (65% Moderna vs. 44% Pfizer) and drowsiness (40% Moderna vs. 20% Pfizer) were most common.
• For 2-5 year olds, pain at injection site was most common (60-70% Moderna vs. 27% Pfizer), followed by fatigue.

For Moderna, 1 in 4 experienced a fever. Side effects were more common after Dose 2. For Pfizer, 1 in 20 experienced a fever, and side effects for Dose 3 were similar to Dose 2. The higher rate of Moderna side effects is due to the higher dose.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized because of the virus. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, the effects of the virus are unpredictable. Even asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19 can lead to unexpected complications like long COVID, or post-COVID conditions. Vaccination is the best way to protect children from COVID-19.

Medical and public health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children and adolescents age 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus.

Another important reason for children to get the COVID-19 vaccine is to protect their friends, family, and the broader community from the spread of the virus. As vaccination rates increase, the lower the chances that the coronavirus will mutate into dangerous variants. 

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

Pfizer vaccine: 

• Children age 6 months through 4 years old receive a three-shot series, with two doses spaced three weeks apart and followed by a third at least two months later. The dosage is one-tenth the adult dosage. 

Moderna vaccine: 

• Children age 6 months through 5 years old receive a two-shot series, with two doses spaced four weeks apart. The dosage is one-quarter the adult dosage.  

• This vaccine series also recommends a booster dose two months after the completing the two-shot series. 

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines. 

Or, check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age. 

Both vaccines will protect your child from severe disease and death caused by COVID-19 as well as decrease the possibility of ER visits, hospitalizations, and long COVID.  The vaccines have some minor differences in the frequency of side effects.  It is best to consult with your provider who can assess which of the two vaccines might be best for your child, considering their age and medical history.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

The dose and series authorized for children under 5 years was tested in rigorous clinical trials designed to study the safety and effectiveness of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in these age groups. Clinical trials were not started in children until after the trials in adults showed safety and efficacy of the vaccines. 

In real world data, more than 200 million Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 10 million U.S. children ages 5-11 have received a pediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

Pfizer conducted extended testing on their low-dose vaccine for children under 5, and incorporated a third dose to make sure there was adequate protection from severe disease and death due to COVID-19 infection. The third dose increases the protection to the level seen in adults who receive the Pfizer vaccine.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, talk to your doctor or visit slopublichealth.org/vaccines.

Or, check out these recommended vaccine schedules by age.

• Children (under the age of 18) must have an accompanying parent or guardian with them, as well as documentation of their age, such as a passport, birth certificate, medical record, school ID, etc. 

• Parents: please review and sign the forms available in English and Spanish before your child’s vaccine appointment.  

Yes, if you are pregnant, it is recommended that you be vaccinated against COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered during any stage of pregnancy. People who are pregnant are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.  

Getting vaccinated protects your and your baby's health. Preventing COVID-19 during pregnancy is important because COVID-19 can lead to complications during pregnancy and birth. Vaccination against COVID-19 for pregnant people is strongly recommended by the CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 

Questions? Review the resources below or talk with your doctor about protecting yourself and your pregnancy from COVID-19. 

Resources: 

• SLO County Public Health: Pregnancy and Vaccines 
• CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding 
• CDPH: Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy
• CDPH: Guidance for Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• CDPH: COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy Factsheet
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center: In this short video, Dr. Hank Bernstein discusses COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. 
• Mother to Baby: FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy 

Yes, if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant now, or plan to become pregnant in the future, you should strongly consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with fertility or pregnancy. No vaccine in the history of vaccines has ever been linked to fertility issues -- for men or for women. 

In fact, getting vaccinated helps protect your reproductive health that could potentially be adversely affected by severe infections from viruses. 

Watch this short video in which Dr. Paul Offit discusses COVID-19, the vaccines and infertility. 

Read more about fertility and COVID-19 vaccines in this article from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center. 

Learn more at slopublichealth.org/protectmypregnancy 

Questions? Talk with OB-GYN about protecting yourself and your pregnancy (current or future) from COVID-19. 

Yes, it is safe and recommended to get vaccinated while breastfeeding—whether it’s your first dose or a booster dose.  

It is very important that people who have recently been pregnant are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines. People who were recently pregnant are at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 (Source: CDC). Vaccination is especially important to help protect your health. 

Learn more at slopublichealth.org/protectmypregnancy 

The COVID-19 vaccines have received the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history, which has allowed public health officials to make science-based recommendations that keep people safe. There have been more than 390 million doses administered in the U.S. to date. 

All COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested and reviewed. The vaccine’s clinical trials three-phase process was detailed and thorough, and no shortcuts were taken. More than 150,000 people participated in U.S. clinical trials of the vaccines, and now, hundreds of millions of vaccine doses in the U.S. have been safely administered. Data from trial will continue to be collected for two years after each vaccine is first administered to ensure that they are safe for the long term. As with all vaccines, there will be ongoing monitoring for adverse events among people who are vaccinated into the future.

Hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been safely administered in the U.S. alone. 
 

On July 8, 2022, the FDA fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 12 and up, confirming the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. 

On January 31, 2022, the FDA fully approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 18 and older.

These vaccines have also recieved emergency use authorization for children of ages as young as 6 months based on robust safety monitoring data.

Questions about side effects are best discussed with your health care provider. However, side effects are usually mild and resolve in 1-2 days. Arm soreness or mild fever can be treated with over the counter medications like ibuprofen, or Tylenol (acetometophen).

The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that vaccines are as safe as possible. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective based on large clinical trials with diverse participants (including various ages and medical conditions). 

There are systems in place to monitor for adverse events and side effects of the vaccine in real-time, including: 

• V-safe app from the CDC is a smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. V-safe uses text messaging and surveys to check in with COVID-19 vaccine recipients after vaccination, allowing researchers to continually study vaccine safety on all populations.   

• The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national system used by the CDC and the FDA. This system collects reports from healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the public regarding any adverse events that may happen after vaccination.       

• National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is an acute and long-term facility monitoring system that reports to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).  

• Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) is a network of nine healthcare organizations from across the US that conduct active surveillance and research. This system is used to aid in determining if possible side effects identified in the VAERS are actually related to the vaccine. 

• Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project is a collaboration between seven medical research institutions and the CDC. CISA provides consultation on a case by case basis, and conducts research about vaccine safety. 

More information about how the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine is ensured can be viewed, here.