Protect Yourself Against COVID-19
Week of April 15, 2024
- COVID-19 poses the greatest risk for severe disease to those over 65 years of age and persons with certain health issues, including pregnancy. But, anyone who gets COVID-19 can develop long COVID.
- We encourage everyone to stay up-to-date on vaccination, stay home and test for COVID-19 when sick, and seek treatment if testing positive. Information on antigen and PCR testing can be found here.
- Existing vaccines, tests, and treatments still work well against the JN.1 variant.
- Alameda County has no masking requirements for the general public at this time and continues to align with state COVID-19 masking guidance, except as required
by local Order for Staff in patient care areas of Acute Care Hospitals,
Psychiatric Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Dialysis Centers, and Infusion Centers. - For added protection, consider masking in any indoor public setting, especially if you are at higher risk for severe disease (over 65 years of age and/or persons with certain health conditions).
- The CDC recommends that EVERYONE ages 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their last dose. Novavax is only authorized for persons 12+.
- Most persons who have never been vaccinated only need one dose of Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or 2 doses of Novavax to be considered up-to-date.
- The CDC now recommends that everyone 65 and older get a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after their first dose.
- Children 6 months to 4 years of age who have never been vaccinated are still recommended to get either 2 or 3 doses COVID-19 vaccine.
- Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual influenza (flu) shot. Children 8 years and younger need 2 doses the first year they get the flu vaccine. Older adults, young children, pregnant persons and persons with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe influenza disease.
- If you have insurance, including Medi-Cal, please contact your healthcare provider or pharmacy about COVID-19 and flu vaccines. ACPHD will be able to offer COVID-19 AND flu vaccines to adults without insurance and adults whose insurance does not provide cost-free coverage. Visit our vaccine page or vaccines.gov (make sure to click “Bridge Access Program”) to find a location near you.
Announcements
September 19, 2023
Health Officer Order No. 23-03 Order of the Health Officer of the County Alameda Mandatory Masking of Staff in Health Care Facilities; Suspension and Recission of Prior Health Officer Masking Orders (HOO 23-03, effective 12:01 a.m. November 1, 2023)
- This order also suspends November 20, 2020 Order No. 20-16b (requiring Health Care Workers in specified facilities to receive annual flu vaccinations or wear masks), effective September 20, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. in Alameda County. The Order remains in effect in the City of Berkeley at this time.
March, 27, 2023
Health Officer Order No. 23-02 Order of Health Officer of the County of Alameda Mandatory Masking of Staff in Skilled Nursing Facilities (HOO 23-02, effective 12:01 a.m. on April 3, 2023)
February 28, 2023
Order Rescinding March 5, 2020 Declaration of Local Health Emergency and Rescinding Health Officer Orders 20-02, 20-05g, 20-06t, and 20-18 (HOO 23-01, effective 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2023): English, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese
- Alameda County Statement: English, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese
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