Latest Updates

Sept. 22, 2023

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines

The Food and Drug Administration approved and authorized the updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone ages six months and older get them. A new COVID-19 vaccine is recommended if one has not been received in the past two months.

In a messsage to the UCSF community, Chief Clinical Officer Josh Adler said,"I recommend that everyone in our UCSF community receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available through local pharmacies or your health care provider."

At the present time, UCSF will not provide this vaccine for faculty, staff or learners. UCSF expects to get shipments of updated COVID-19 vaccines for patients soon. 

As a reminder, UCSF also encourages everyone to get a flu vaccine by Nov. 1, 2023. Members of the UCSF community can get a flu vaccine at one of several UCSF locations.

For recommendation to protect yourself and others from illness, read the full message from Dr. Adler. 

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Previous Announcements

Aug. 8, 2023

Protect Yourself, UCSF Community from COVID-19

Over the past several weeks, UCSF Health and UCSF campus have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases among employees, students and patients. This increase in COVID-19 cases is reflected in the CDPH Wastewater Surveillance, which measures the concentration of the virus in wastewater samples in San Francisco County.  

The Occupational Health Services’ COVID Response Team has identified several COVID-19 clusters (3 or more cases in a single unit/department that are epidemiologically linked) requiring intervention in various departments.   

As part of UCSF’s ongoing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, and in collaboration with Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Prevention and the COVID Response Team, we are asking all members of the UCSF community to remain diligent with best practices to keep the workplace and community safe. Please see these important reminders. 

To protect yourself and the UCSF community at large, we highly recommend the following: 

• Stay at home when sick or experiencing any symptoms. 
• Complete the Digital Screener (available through the Mobile App or the Digital Screener website) to report new symptoms, an exposure or COVID positive infection to receive guidance for testing and return-to-work/campus clearance. 
• The Digital Screener is still REQUIRED for reporting a COVID-19 infection and confirming clearance to return to work. 
• Wear a mask in settings where patients receive care and in the community, when participating in crowded indoor and outdoor gatherings. 
• Keep a physical distance greater than 6 feet from others as much as possible 
• When in break rooms, 
  • Do not take your mask off unless you are eating or drinking. 
  • Eat separately from others and social distance as much as possible. 
• Wash your hands frequently. 
• Get your bivalent booster if you have not already done so. 
• Continue to reference the UCSF Return to Work Guidelines for updated policies. 

If you have questions or need assistance with testing, please go to the COVID-19 testing page  contact the UCSF Occupational Health Services’ COVID Response Team at 415-514-7328    

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April 3, 2023: A message from Chief Clinical Officer Josh Adler: COVID-19 Policy Changes as of April 3, 2023