COVID-19 Vaccines

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released its 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, along with its flu and RSV vaccine recommendations, for children, adults and those who are pregnant.

CDPH, in collaboration with California’s partners in the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.

WCHA aligns its vaccine recommendations with health guidance from trusted national medical societies: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

If you have questions about vaccine recommendations specific to your health needs, please talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist.

Yes. It is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine with the flu vaccine.

If you are a UC San Diego Health patient, you can get a flu shot at one of our several locations around San Diego County. Appointments are required, so please schedule yours today to stay protected this season.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine location near you, visit the San Diego County vaccine locator.

If your insurance plan is accepted at UC San Diego Health, it will cover the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine.

Under the new California Assembly Bill 144, the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines recommended by CDPH will continue to be covered by health care insurance plans in most instances. If you have questions about coverage, please contact your health insurance plan.

Any vaccine can have side effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines are common but are mostly mild. Read about what to expect at your vaccination appointment.

We encourage you to continue taking safety precautions after vaccination.

Yes, the CDC says COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, meeting strict scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality.

There are many benefits to getting vaccinated, including protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death. However, vaccine protection can decline over time, especially as new coronavirus variants emerge. Booster shots can enhance or restore your protection. View authorized types of COVID-19 vaccines.

Yes, you can get a COVID-19 shot even if you've had another recent vaccination (including a tetanus shot, flu shot, pneumonia shot or shingles vaccine).

Yes. It is recommended that you get the COVID-19 vaccine even if you've had COVID-19 recently. Immunity after infection can decrease over time, and the vaccine strengthens the immune response, further protecting you and your child from a repeat infection.

Studies show that in children ages 5 to 11, the COVID-19 vaccine lowered the risk of getting COVID-19 (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and also the risk of associated complications, such as hospitalization and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). 

Like other vaccines given in childhood, the COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent your child from getting sick and spreading the disease in the community.

If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your vaccine by about three months so that the dose can boost your immunity when it starts to wane.

In many cases, we automatically receive vaccine records from other vaccination locations in California and update your medical records in MyUCSDChart.

• To check, log into your MyUCSDChart account, go to the "Menu," then "My Record" and select "COVID-19" or "Immunizations and Screening."
• If the record of your vaccine is not there, you can send a message to your primary care provider through MyUCSDChart. Log into your MyUCSDChart account and select "Messages," then "Send a Message." Please include the date you received the vaccine, the type of vaccine you received and a photo of your vaccine record.