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Vaccines

Overview

Immunization Programs & Vaccines

Immunizations, also known as vaccines or shots, are one of the most important public health efforts to control disease spread in the world. The San Mateo County Immunization Program works with community members, parents, physicians and clinics, schools and child care centers, older adults and other health and social service organizations to ensure that immunizations are available for all. Newborns, babies, teens, pregnant women, adults and older adults need immunizations to stay healthy and protected from diseases, such as polio, whooping cough (pertussis), measles, hepatitis B and flu.

Services

The Immunization Program:

  • Assists child care centers, family child care providers and schools to ensure immunization requirements are met.
  • Conducts free or low cost immunization clinics throughout the county.
  • Offers educational opportunities for medical providers and their staff about current vaccines and immunization schedules.
  • Participates is a variety of outreach activities, such as health fairs, National Infant Immunization Week and Toddler Immunization Month.
  • Monitors the up-to-date immunization status of two year olds in the county.
  • Coordinates the perinatal hepatitis B program to educate medical provider and pregnant women on the importance of being tested for hepatitis B before delivery and the appropriate follow-up care if the test is positive.
  • Promotes hepatitis B vaccination of newborns in the hospital.
  • Coordinates the annual influenza prevention campaign by offering education on respiratory disease prevention and vaccine clinics.
  • Promotes the use of a computer based immunization registry (CAIR) with physicians, clinics schools and other organizations.
  • Provides immunization related brochures, posters and flyers and other materials for the community, medical providers, child care centers and schools.

Recommended Immunizations by Age

General Immunization Information

Immunization and Health Exam Clinics

Infants, Children and Adolescents

Travel Clinics

CDC Information

Additional Vaccine Information and Updates

Vaccine Safety

General information

If there was a vaccine against cancer, wouldn’t you get it for your kids?
Three doses of the HPV vaccine protect them from cancer caused by a virus that 1 in 4 people have.

Preteen boys and girls need to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV). The vaccine prevents against cancers caused by the HPV virus. Nearly 80 million people—about one in four—are currently infected with HPV in the United States. Your child needs three
doses of the vaccine to be protected.