Latest Updates

September 26, 2024

2024-25 COVID-19 Vaccine Information

In a message to faculty, staff and learners, Chief Clinical Officer Josh Adler provided an update on this year’s COVID-19 vaccine and related policies for the UCSF community. He wrote: 

For UCSF Faculty, Staff and Learners

Our recommendation and policies related to the updated COVID-19 vaccine are as follows:

• It is strongly recommended that everyone in the UCSF community receive the updated vaccine. 
• You should obtain the vaccine through your local pharmacy, health care provider or community vaccine site. More information is available on the OHS website.
• UCSF faculty, staff and learners will need to submit proof of vaccination or a declination form. 
• Proof of vaccination or declination should be submitted via the OHS Portal or Digital Screener. 
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland employees should submit documentation to [email protected] or through the Digital Screener.
• A deadline for compliance will be communicated at a later date.

For UCSF Health patients

• If you come to UCSF for primary care, you can ask for the COVID-19 vaccine during your next primary care visit. 

Read the message from Dr. Adler in its entirety.

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May 2, 2024

New Masking Guidance for UCSF

As of May 1, at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and May 6 at UCSF West Bay campuses, face masks are no longer routinely required across all areas of the University. Face masks are required only in areas where direct patient care is delivered during the following time periods:

• During the annual respiratory viral season, from November 1 to April 30 and 
• During sustained periods of high community transmission of respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.  

Outside of these periods, wearing face masks is optional in areas where patient care is delivered. UCSF Fresno should follow its local or institutional policies for masking.  

Read the full message from Josh Adler, Chief Clinical Officer, UCSF Health.

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April 1, 2024

UCSF COVID-19 Policy and Guidance remains UNCHANGED. While the March 1, 2024, Respiratory Virus Guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is intended for general public and community settings, UCSF follows and adheres to stricter guidelines in accordance with health care systems and high-risk congregate settings. For this reason, you may notice a difference in guidance when reading CDC information and should always follow UCSF guidance.

The CDC recommends:  

• If you are 65 years and older, you should receive one additional dose of any updated COVID-19 vaccine at least four months following the previous dose of updated COVID-19 Vaccine. Updated COVID-19 vaccine references the 2023–2024 Formula COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer-BioNTech). 
• Immunocompromised individuals should follow a COVID-19 vaccination schedule guided by a health care practitioner based on their age and vaccination history. 

For specific details and all other situations, refer to the CDC website.