San Francisco Bay Area — Today, health officers from the 13 Bay Area health jurisdictions advised the public to get updated vaccines now to protect against flu and COVID this season. The fall 2025 updated flu vaccine and fall 2025 updated COVID vaccine are now available in pharmacies and doctors’ offices throughout the Bay Area.
Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to receive an updated flu vaccine each year. Everyone 6 months and older who lives in California can also get the updated fall 2025 COVID vaccine for protection against COVID infection. Health officials from the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma and the city of Berkeley want everyone in the Bay Area to know that these vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines help you and your family stay healthy, preventing severe illness and hospital visits. The State of California provides science-based recommendations about exactly who needs vaccination to protect against respiratory viruses, and Bay Area health officials are aligned with these recommendations that safeguard vaccine access. The COVID vaccine is especially recommended for older adults, pregnant people, infants and toddlers, and anyone else with risk for serious disease.
“Vaccines are the best protection against severe respiratory disease, especially for at risk groups,” said Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, San Mateo County health officer. “With many billions of closely monitored doses around the world, flu and COVID vaccines are proven to be safe and effective.”
COVID and Flu Vaccines Are Covered by Insurance
Get vaccinated with the updated vaccines at your regular health care provider or a pharmacy covered by your insurance. Despite recent federal changes, the updated fall 2025 COVID shot is still free or low-cost for people who live in California and who have health insurance regulated by this state. The same goes for the annual flu shot.
Options for Those without Insurance
For those without health Insurance or coverage, San Mateo County Health is working with local community organizations to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines at no cost. Locations and times for these clinics are listed here. Residents may also call San Mateo County Health’s Immunization Program at (650) 573-2877 to learn of vaccination opportunities.
Residents who are homebound and whose health care provider does not offer in-home vaccination may call San Mateo County Health’s Aging and Disability Services at (844) 868-0938 to learn more and register for an appointment.
To learn about health insurance and health coverage programs in San Mateo County, see this page or call at (650) 616-2002.
Masking Order for Skilled Nursing Facilities
During respiratory virus season, San Mateo County Health is also requiring everyone except patients in the patient-care areas of skilled nursing facilities to wear face masks. The order of the health officer goes into effect on November 1, 2025, and expires on March 31, 2026. It applies only in skilled nursing facilities, and not other health care facilities, and only to staff, workers and visitors in patient-care areas, including patients’ rooms, lobbies, waiting rooms, examination rooms, and hallways used by patients. It does not include administrative offices or staff break areas. Persons with certain medical or other conditions are exempted from the order. The full text of the order may be found here.
San Mateo County Health will post updates to its seasonal respiratory disease guidance page here.
Preston Merchant
Communications Officer
650-867-1661
press@smchealth.org