COVID-19 vaccines are an important tool to reducing transmission and returning the community to normal operations. Together, we will end the pandemic.

Local Planning

The COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use have all been shown to prevent serious illness and death, and we urge everyone to get a vaccine once eligible. You will be fully vaccinated two weeks after your last vaccination.

Residents interested in vaccines should first contact their medical provider. Vaccines are also available through sites listed on the chart below. Residents should also sign up for MyTurn to be notified once they are eligible, by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov. COVID-19 hotline: 833-422-4255. The Public Health Division will distribute vaccine through our local vaccine plan.

Until everyone has access to a vaccine, everyone should continue doing their part to protect the community, including staying home as much as possible, wearing face coverings in public, maintaining social distancing and avoiding gatherings with those outside your household unless each participant has been fully vaccinated.

COVID Vaccine Interest Survey

As the County begins the transition to the statewide Blue Shield third-party vaccine distribution system, we are pausing the Vaccine Interest Form to give the Public Health Division and local partners a chance to address pending requests and assess integration into the new system. If you wish to sign up eligible employees for vaccines, please have them visit http://MyTurn.ca.gov. COVID-19 hotline: 833-422-4255.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Santa Cruz County Residents
If you are over 65 and need help making an appointment, call the Bridges to Access Vaccination Helpline at (831) 219-8607. Leave your name, phone number, age and zip code, and Community Bridges’ staff will call back within 48 hours.
Healthcare System Current Eligibility (Please confirm with your healthcare provider)
*Healthcare systems are frequently updating eligibility criteria based on capacity and available vaccine.		 How to Schedule an Appointment
Kaiser Permanente

Anyone age 50+ or who work in education, childcare, food and agriculture, emergency services, healthcare or long-term care. Appointment availability is dependent on vaccine supply.

 Call 866-454-8855 or visit https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine.
Non-Kasier patients should go to https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/not-a-kaiser-permanente-member.
Sutter Health/Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) Healthcare workers, PAMF patients 50+ or who work in education, childcare, law enforcement, emergency response, food service or agriculture. Contact Sutter/PAMF to schedule a vaccination appointment: www.sutterhealth.org/covid-vaccine or by phone (844) 987-6115
Dignity Health Medical Group – Dominican We are participating in the California Department of Public Health’s MyTurn system for COVID-19 vaccination appointments and vaccinating those who meet current eligibility requirements. Sign up for notifications or make an appointment through https://myturn.ca.gov. COVID-19 hotline: 833-422-4255. For Dignity Health patients, more information is available by calling (831) 288-6526 or at http://www.dhmf.org/dominican.
OptumServe Mass Vaccination Site 50+, those in eligible occupations, or patients 16 and older who have a high-risk medical condition Call 877-218-0381 or visit https://myturn.ca.gov. English and Spanish available.
COVID-19 hotline: 833-422-4255
Salud Para La Gente Salud patients and patients of other small medical offices who live/work in 95019, 95076, and 95077 zip codes who are 50+ years old or are 16+ years old and have high-risk medical conditions or work in eligible occupations. To schedule an appointment, call (831) 728-0222.
Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) SCCH patients aged 50 and over; SCCH patients aged 16 and older who work in healthcare or other eligible occupations, including education and childcare, food and agriculture, emergency services, transit and janitorial; SCCH patients aged 16 and older who have high-risk medical conditions or are experiencing homelessness; and any community member aged 65 and over. Call (831) 427-3500 ext 324 to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
Emeline Health Center Healthcare workers, Emeline Health Center patients 50+, those in eligible occupations, or patients 16 and older who have a high-risk medical condition. To make an appointment, contact the main line at (831) 454-4100.
Watsonville Health Center Healthcare workers, Watsonville Health Center patients 50+, those in eligible occupations, or patients 16 and older who have a high-risk medical condition. To make an appointment, call or text (831) 515-9399, if you send a text messages please add your full name, date of birth and phone number. You may also contact the clinic main line (831)763-8400.
Homeless Persons Health Project (HPHP) Eligible people experiencing homelessness or eligible homeless service providers. To make an appointment, call (831) 454-2080.
Rite Aid (select stores) Check website for eligibility. https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier
CVS (select stores) Check website for eligibility. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine
Walgreen's (select stores) Check website for eligibility. https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp
If you would like to be notified when it is your turn. Sign up at: https://myturn.ca.gov/. COVID-19 hotline: 833-422-4255.

 

Still looking for a vaccine?
Try Vaccine Finder!

  • VaccineFinder.org
    *The Public Health Division is not affiliated with Vaccine Finder

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What values and principles are guiding local distribution of the vaccine?

    The Public Health Division is committed to providing transparent and accurate information to help residents make vaccine decisions, focusing on equity and data, ensuring safe and equitable distribution and leveraging all venues and partners for broad vaccine distribution.

  • How will a COVID-19 vaccine impact the pandemic?

    A COVID-19 vaccine could reduce the number of people with COVID-19, reduce severity of illness, reduce hospitalizations and reduce deaths.

  • What can I do to help?

    General volunteers can sign up through the County’s Volunteer Initiative Program

  • When will vaccines be available?

    We have received the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine. At first, supplies will be limited, but will increase in the coming months.

  • Who gets the vaccine first?
  • What steps are being taken to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe?

    The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. California also formed a Scientific Safety Review Work Group comprised of nationally recognized immunization, public health, academic and other experts to review vaccine safety.

    The work group is staying abreast of vaccine candidate(s) trials, evidence of safety and efficacy, and other information to independently provide recommendations to California leadership as well as ensure public confidence in vaccine safety, efficacy, and implementation efforts.

  • How many doses are needed for the vaccine to be effective?

    Most of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States need two doses several weeks apart to be effective.

  • Is the vaccine free?

    Cost will not be a barrier to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

  • If I get the vaccine, will I still have to wear a mask?

    Yes. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like wearing masks, washing hands and physical distancing.

  • Should people who have gotten sick with COVID still get vaccinated?

    Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. At this time, research how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19 is still underway.

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Healthcare Provider Resources: