Immunization Information for Medical Providers

California School Immunization Law

Childhood Vaccines

Routine primary childhood vaccines are administered at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 15 months of age.   For children who begin their immunizations late, follow minimum intervals for vaccination to bring them up-to-date in a timely manner. All providers should understand true vaccine contraindications to avoid missed immunization opportunities.

• Childhood Immunization schedule
• Childhood vaccination catch-up schedules and contraindication information

• Medical care providers are eligable for free, federally funded vaccines for uninsured and lower income families' children through the Vaccines For Children Program (VFC) at (510) 704-3750

Adolescent Vaccines

• Adolescent Immunization Schedule
• CDC recommends that children ages 11-12, be immunized with the meningococcal conjugate vaccine. They recommend vaccination for the next 2-3 years for teens entering high school as well as college freshmen who will be living in dormitories.

• As of July 1, 2011, California law will require all students entering 7th-12th grades to show proof of a pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot, known as Tdap before starting school. This will replace the current hepatitis B requirement.Other vaccines may also be generally indicated for some adolescents.

  • A Pediatric/Adolescent Health Care Provider Forum will be held on Wednesday, June 1 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm to focus on sharing updated information and best-practices related to implementation of the new pertussis law. Leaders from any interested medical offices are encouraged to attend. Click here to download the flyer for additional details.

Adult Vaccines

• Adult Immunization Schedule
• Vaccine recommendations for specific populations.
• Programs that provide free vaccines to local public health centers and private and nonprofit organizations. Contact the Adult Vaccine Program at (415) 554-2830 for more information on the Influenza Vaccine Program and Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccine Program.
• Programs that provide low cost vaccines to San Francisco residents
  • Perinatal Hep B Projects
  • Adult Immunization and Travel Clinic
  • San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium

  • Community Health Network Health Centers and Clinics

Rules and Regulations

• Vaccine information statements (VIS) are required to be given to a patient or guardian prior to the administration of any vaccine. Individuals should be given time to read the statement and ask questions as needed. Multiple language versions are available for most vaccines.

• Reporting is required for certain events following vaccine administration. The Vacine Adverse Event Reporting System, VAERS, requests suspected adverse event/reaction be reported to 1(800) 822-7967.

School and Childcare Laws

California school and childcare rules and regulations govern admittance into childcare and kindergarten.

The new immunization law requires all students entering into 7th - 12th grades to show proof of a pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot, known as Tdap before the start of school in Fall 2011. 

These requirements apply to millions of students in California. Please utilize every opportunity to provide a Tdap booster shot to adolescents and adults (7 years and older) who haven't yet received it. Updates on implementing this new law and information on pertussis are posted at http://shotsforschool.org/providerinfo.html. In addition, the San Francisco Department of Public Health will be conducting a series of three Tdap clinics for students entering 7th - 12th grades who do not have access to Tdap vaccine through their own provider or who do not have a medical home. These clinics will be held on the following Saturdays: March 19, May 14, and August 6. Click here for more information about the clinics.

The California Immunization Registry, also known as CAIR is directly accessed by many schools to check student immunization records. We encourage you to join CAIR to help meet the new Tdap booster shot requirement.

Vaccine Materials

• Order free immunization materials through The San Francisco Department of Public Health.

• Vaccine fact sheets  

Useful Vaccine Links

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) pink book. An excellent reference of up-to-date vaccine information for medical professionals.
• Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommendations and indications for pediatric and adult vaccine use.
• American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book. An excellent source of immunization information, vaccine preventable disease advice, and guidelines.
• Low-cost hepatitis vaccinating and testing sites in San Francisco

Please call the San Francisco Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Prevention Unit with any questions. Call (415) 554-2830.