Live Healthy: Disease & Prevention
Disease & Prevention
Vaccines (including the flu shot), STD/HIV testing, tuberculosis and hepatitis services, and diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks. For information on routine immunizations, please visit the Immunization Programs & Vaccines page.
Seasonal Respiratory Disease Guidance
During respiratory virus season (November 1 – March 31), San Mateo County Health follows the vaccination guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for COVID-19, flu and RSV.
STD/HIV Clinics and Testing
The San Mateo County STD/HIV Program works to prevent STD/HIV infection and care for individuals and families affected by HIV in San Mateo County. The Program provides comprehensive, community-based prevention and testing services, STD/HIV related health care, social services, advocacy, and referrals to community agencies providing drug treatment, housing, food, dental care and other services.
Influenza (flu)
County Health is urging everyone over the age of 6 months to get a flu shot to protect themselves and their loved ones. The best way to reduce your risk from seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated every year. The flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine can be administered at the same time.
Older adults, pregnant women, young adults, children, and people with other underlying health conditions are most at risk of getting the flu, but everyone six months and older should get vaccinated.
It takes two weeks after being immunized to be fully protected, so it’s best not to delay getting a shot.
You can get flu shots from:
- Your primary health care provider
- Retail pharmacies and stores, with information and appointments available on MyTurn
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. There are other viruses that can cause these symptoms, but a high fever and bad cough usually indicate flu.
Vaccine Clinics for Uninsured Individuals
Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated.
The following vaccines will be available unless otherwise noted below: flu, high dose flu vaccine for adults 65 years and older, COVID-19 for people 12 years and older without insurance.
No appointment, ID, or health insurance is needed. Insured individuals can get the vaccine from their health care provider or pharmacy. Clinic info is subject to change.
Residents who are homebound and whose health care provider does not offer in-home vaccination may call Aging and Disability Services at 844-868-0938 to learn more and register for an appointment.
Daly City | Daly City Health Center, 380 90th St., First Floor Ages 2 years and older. Unsure about COVID vaccine availability |
Friday, Oct. 10 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
Daly City | Daly City Church of the Nazarene, 1595 Edgeworth Ave. Ages: 3 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Sunday, Oct. 26 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
Daly City | United Methodist Church, 1474 Southgate Ave. Ages 3 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Sunday, Oct. 19 11:30 – 1:30 PM |
Daly City | Our Lady of Mercy Church, 1 Elmwood Drive Ages: 3 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Sunday, Oct. 5 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
East Palo Alto | Ravenswood Family Health Network, 1885 Bay Rd. Ages: 3 years and older; No COVID availability; Thursday: Drive Thru; Sat: Walk In. (Closed Nov 27 – Nov 29) |
Oct. 4 to Dec. 6 Saturdays: 9:00 – 12:00 PM Thursdays: 8:30 – 11:30 AM |
East Palo Alto | WIC Clinic, 2450 Euclid Ave. Ages: 2 years and older |
Wednesday, Nov. 5 TBD |
Foster City | Sana Sana Health Fair, Foster City Community Center, 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd Ages: 3 years and older |
Saturday, Nov. 15 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Half Moon Bay | Half Moon Bay Library, 620 Correas Street Ages: 2 years and older |
Saturday, Oct. 11 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM |
Redwood City | Siena Youth Center – Sports Night, 2625 Marlborough Ave. Ages: 3 years and older |
Friday, Oct. 10 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM |
San Mateo | San Mateo Global Lions Free Clinic, 19 W. 39th Avenue, Suite 5 Ages: 2 years and older, |
Saturdays, Oct 4 to Nov. 15 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
San Mateo | Stanford Flu Crew-SMMC Parking Lot, 225 37th Ave Ages: 2 years and older |
Wednesday, Oct. 22 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
South San Francisco | St. Augustine Catholic Church, 3700 Callan Blvd. Ages 3 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Sunday, Oct. 12 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
South San Francisco | Orange Memorial Park, Orange Avenue & Tennis Drive Ages: 3 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Saturday, Oct. 18 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
South San Francisco | South San Francisco Health Center, 306 Spruce Avenue Ages: 2 years and older. Unsure about COVID availability |
Friday, Oct. 17 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
Tuberculosis (TB)
What It Is, Where to Get Tested, and What to Do if You Have It
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that affects people all over the world. TB used to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States, but not anymore. In most cases, tuberculosis is preventable, treatable, and curable.
- California Tuberculosis Screening Guidelines for Child Care Centers and Schools
- San Mateo County TB Testing Clinics
- TB Latente vs. TB Activa
- Latent TB laban sa Aktibong TB
- Rifampin Fact Sheet
- 3HP Fact Sheet
- INH Fact Sheet
- Sputum Collection Instructions - English
- Sputum Collection Instructions - Spanish
- Sputum Collection Instructions - Tagalog
- Home Isolation Instructions - English
- Home Isolation Instructions - Spanish
- Home Isolation Instructions - Tagalog
- 2020 Annual TB Report
- 2017 Annual TB Report
- 2018 Annual TB Report
- 2019 Annual TB Report
- 2021 Annual TB Report
- San Mateo County TB Testing Clinics
- 2022 Annual TB Report
- 2024 Annual TB Report
- 2023 Annual TB Report
- Read more
Viral Hepatitis
The word “hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus. In the US, the most common types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. An estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic (lifelong) hepatitis. Most do not know they are infected.
Lyme Disease & Tick Testing
The incidence of Lyme Disease in San Mateo County is very low.
There were 24 reported cases from 1991 to 1999, ranging from 1 to 4 cases each year. Compare this number to over 9,000 to 16,000 nationwide cases reported each year during the same time period.
The microorganism that causes Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) is not common among ticks in San Mateo County. Young ticks, or nymphs, are more likely than adults to be infected; the nymphs often clear the infection by the time they reach adulthood.