Public school campuses across Contra Costa County will host free clinics beginning next week to ensure that every student who is 12 or older has access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine.
Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) and Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with the Contra Costa Office of Education and several school districts, will begin sending mobile vaccine clinics to schools across the county on May 18. Clinics will rotate to new campuses weekly, later returning to provide second-dose appointments.
Not every school will host a clinic, but all campus clinics will welcome anyone eligible for vaccine – including students from other schools, family and community members.
“The goal is to help families that might not otherwise have the opportunity to get a free vaccine at a convenient location where they feel safe – the neighborhood school,” said Diane Burgis, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “But please do not wait. If you need a vaccine, we have a clinic in your area right now waiting for you.”
County-operated clinics in Contra Costa no longer require appointments. Appointments are available for patients who want them on the CCHS appointment page or by calling 1-833-829-2626.
The following school-based vaccine clinics are currently scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clinic dates and locations are subject to change.
- May 18-22: Antioch Middle, Concord High.
- May 25-May 29: Edna Hill Middle (Brentwood), Pinole Valley High (Pinole), Pittsburg High, Ygnacio Valley High (Concord)
- June 1-June 5: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Dallas Ranch Middle (Antioch), Freedom High (Oakley)**, Iron Horse Middle (San Ramon), Kennedy High (Richmond), Mt. Diablo High (Concord)
- June 8-June 12: Antioch Middle, California High (San Ramon), Concord High, De Anza High (Richmond), Las Lomas High (Walnut Creek), Liberty High (Brentwood)
- June 15-June 19: Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon), Edna Hill Middle (Brentwood), Pinole Valley High (Pinole), Pittsburg High, Ygnacio Valley High (Concord)
- June 22-June 26: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Dallas Ranch Middle (Antioch), Freedom High (Oakley)**, San Ramon Valley (Danville), Mt. Diablo High (Concord), Kennedy High (Richmond)
- June 29-July 3: De Anza High (Richmond), California High (San Ramon), Las Lomas High (Walnut Creek), Liberty High (Brentwood)
- July 6-10: Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon)
** No clinic at Freedom High on 6/5 or 6/26 Patients younger than 18 do require consent from a parent or guardian to get vaccinated. Information about required school vaccinations, such as Tdap, will also be available at the clinics.
CCHS and Kaiser Permanente are working with host campuses to prevent conflicts with on-site education or graduation ceremonies.
“To make every school as safe as possible from COVID-19, it is critical that our campus communities have easy access to vaccine and health information,” said Lynn Mackey, Contra Costa County’s Superintendent of Schools. “Every student who receives a vaccine is a hero, who protects not only themselves, but their family, teachers and friends.”
Kaiser Permanente and many other community healthcare providers also provide COVID-19 at locations across Contra Costa – members can visit kp.org/covidvaccine for more information about how to get a vaccination appointment at local Kaiser Permanente facilities.
“At Kaiser Permanente, we’re committed to help schools continue to be healthy places where students thrive. We are partnering with Contra Costa Health Services and Contra Costa Office of Education to provide COVID-19 vaccine, which is the most powerful protection we have against the virus,” said Chris Boyd, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Diablo Area. “We look forward to continuing to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and our community.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) this week recommended the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer as safe and effective for people as young as 12. The Pfizer vaccine was previously authorized for use with patients as young as 16.
California, Contra Costa County and Kaiser Permanente have aligned with the new federal standard and have begun providing vaccination appointments to people younger than 16.
On Thursday, 68.1% of Contra Costa residents who are 12 or older had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There are about 65,000 county residents who are 12 to 15 years old.
More information about coronavirus and vaccine is available at cchealth.org/coronavirus and, for Kaiser Permanente members, at kp.org/covidvaccine.
