Immunization
Consult the resources below regarding vaccine provider education and enrollment, storage and handling, educational tools and an order form for materials.
Encourage your patients to be up-to-date on all CDC-recommended vaccines to stay protected from vaccine-preventable disease.
Select a topic:
Enroll in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR2)Enroll in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
Vaccine storage and handling
Medical exemptions
Patient vaccination resources
Educational resources
Materials order form
Enroll in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR2)
The California Immunization Registry (CAIR2) is a secure, confidential, statewide computerized immunization information system for California residents.
A new California bill, AB 1797, effective January 1, 2023, requires all healthcare providers to report immunizations administered, tuberculosis test results, and a patient's race and ethnicity into CAIR2.
Ways to reach CAIR2:
- Contact your CAIR2 Bay Area regional representative about integrating this computerized system into your office practices.
- Visit CAIR2 for more information.
- Email [email protected] for CAIR2 assistance.
Choose an enrollment option:
Enroll in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
Many children in the County of Santa Clara have fallen behind on routine vaccinations, and families have concerns about the cost of getting their children vaccinated. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program is a federal program that provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children. You will not have to pay to purchase vaccines for VFC-eligible children. The federal government purchases vaccines, which are then shared with VFC participants at no cost to them.
Learn more about Vaccines for Children
- Any healthcare provider (including pharmacists) authorized by the state to administer vaccines can be a VFC participant.
- All healthcare providers serving VFC-eligible children can be a VFC participant. Eligible groups include:
- Uninsured or underinsured children
- Medicaid-eligible children
- American Indian or Alaska Native children
- Provider enrollment in Medi-Cal is not required.
- Verify you are enrolled in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR2)
- Go to EZIZ.org to review the program eligibility requirements and job aids. Assistance and support are provided for the following requirements:
- Vaccine management plan (template provided)
- Storage and handling requirements
- Staff orientation training
- Contact the Immunization Program to complete enrollment
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit myCAvax.cdph.ca.gov for additional information on VFC.
- Visit EZIZ.org for training and resources.
Vaccine storage and handling
Proper storage and handling techniques are critical to a safe and effective vaccination program. In this section, learn how you and your staff can be the first line of defense in protecting your patients from improperly handled vaccines.
Recommendations, guidelines, and tips for the proper storage and handling of vaccines:
Medical exemptions
MDs and DOs can register to issue and manage medical exemptions through the CAIR-ME website. This website is where all new medical exemptions for school and childcare entry must be issued.
Medical exemptions can only be issued by MDs or DOs licensed in California and must meet applicable Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) criteria.
View the CAIR-ME physician webinar and slides.
Patient vaccination resources
Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the CDC that explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine to someone who is going to receive a vaccine. Federal law requires that healthcare staff provide a VIS to a patient, parent, or legal representative before administering each dose of a vaccine. Download and print VISs for your patients. |
| List of immunization clinics in the County of Santa Clara: English | Spanish | Vietnamese |
| children and youths ages 0-18 |
|---|
| Ages 0 to 6 in English and Spanish |
| Ages 7 to 18 in English and Spanish |
| Ages 0 to 18 at-a-glance summary |
| adults ages 19 and up |
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| Ages 19 and up in English and Spanish |
Educational resources by population
- Counseling tips for encouraging childhood vaccination in conversations with parents and caregivers (County of Santa Clara Public Health Department)
- Vaccine hesitancy rebuttals: strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation with parents and caregivers (County of Santa Clara Public Health Department)
- Part of Growing Up, a Santa Clara County Public Health campaign about the why and how of keeping kids up-to-date on vaccines: English | Spanish | Vietnamese
- Vaccines for Your Children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Vaccines for Preteens and Teens: What Parents Should Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Vaccine Communication Resources for Health Care Providers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Protect Them, a Santa Clara County Public Health campaign about staying up-to-date with your COVID and flu shots: English | Spanish | Vietnamese
- Vaccines for 65+ poster in English and Spanish
- Vaccine Information for Adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Vaccine Communication Resources for Health Care Providers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Pregnant people
- Vaccines for pregnant people flyer in English and Spanish
- Brochure in English and Spanish
- Pregnancy and Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Are your vaccinations up-to-date?
Materials order form
Use this form to order materials only if you are a healthcare provider located in the County of Santa Clara. If you are located outside of the County of Santa Clara and would like to order these materials, contact your local health department.