The new 2023 COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out
To keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors safe from respiratory illnesses that can cause long-term complications, it's important that we keep up with our annual vaccinations. There are at least two shots you should get this fall: one for COVID-19 and one for flu. If you’re 60 or older, you should also get the new vaccine for RSV. Make your appointments today to renew your protection into the new year.
The new 2023 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended by the CDC for everyone six months and older. It just began to roll out last week, but availability is still ramping up and demand is high. Keep trying—this year’s COVID-19 vaccine provides excellent protection against the current variants, so it's worth the wait. KQED has suggestions on how to get your 2023 COVID-19 shot; in the meantime, you should be able to get flu and RSV shots without much difficulty.
How you get your COVID-19 vaccine has changed
Because COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer simply paid for by the federal government, your insurance will now be involved in paying for your vaccine.
If you’re a Kaiser Permanente member, you’ll have to get your 2023 COVID-19 vaccine at a Kaiser vaccination site such as the one on Geary.
If you have other private insurance or Medicare, you’ll need to present that at the pharmacy where you get vaccinated.
If you don’t have insurance, community vaccination sites such as the Unidos en Salud site at 24th and Capp may be an option, once they have the new vaccine. If you want to get vaccinated before then, you’ll use the Bridge Access Program, described below.
Wherever you get the shot, remember to bring your original CDC COVID-19 vaccination card so the provider can update it with your newest shot. Bring it even if it’s full up; the provider may staple a second card to it.
Coming soon: The 2023 COVID-19 vaccine at community vaccination sites
The City updated its “get vaccinated against COVID-19” page last week with this message:
The updated vaccines were approved by the FDA on Sept. 11, 2023. When the FDA authorized updated Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, it also discontinued authorization for the use of [last year's] Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 bivalent vaccines.
As a result, SFDPH temporarily suspended vaccine operations at community-based COVID-19 vaccination sites as of Tuesday, September 12. Vaccine operations at community-based COVID-19 vaccination sites will restart when the new vaccine is locally available.
We’re hoping the page will be updated again when that happens.
Until then, your best bet for a quick jab will be CVS or Walgreens. We look forward to community vaccination sites resuming their work soon.
How to get the 2023 COVID-19 vaccine if you’re uninsured
If you're uninsured, you can still get this year’s COVID-19 vaccine for free through the CDC's Bridge Access Program, which runs through December 31 of next year. You can find participating locations, including CVS and Walgreens, at https://vaccines.gov/ .
Note: If you encounter pharmacy staff who don't know about the program and try to charge you for the vaccine, you may need to advocate for yourself:
ask to see the pharmacist
show that Vaccines.gov indicates the location participates in the Bridge Access Program
show that the pharmacy’s website indicates they participate in the Bridge Access Program (here’s CVS, here’s Walgreens)
call Corporate (here’s CVS, here’s Walgreens)
any or all of the above
We encourage you to be respectful but firm.