Community Immunization Resources

Community Immunization Resources provides resources about vaccines for the general public, healthcare providers, schools and child care providers. Find information about where to get vaccinated, health advisories for vaccine-preventable diseases, recommended vaccines by age and more.

If you don’t have insurance, you may be eligible for Medi-Cal, a public health insurance program which provides health care services to low-income individuals. The following people may be eligible: Families with children, seniors (65 or older), individuals with disabilities, children in foster care, pregnant women and low-income people with specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer or HIV/AIDS.

To learn more about Medi-Cal eligibility and to sign up:
Visit the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department 

If you are enrolled in Medi-cal and having trouble accessing a specific vaccine, please contact us.

 

  • Immunity: Protection from an infectious disease. If you are immune to a disease, you can be exposed to it without becoming infected.
  • Vaccine:A preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some can be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.
    • The California Code of Regulations Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 4, Article 1. Section (M) states: For purposes of this Article, “vaccine” means an immunization administered in the United States of America or other countries that is recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the prevention of the respective diseases identified in section 120335 of the Health and Safety Code.
  • Vaccination: The act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce protection from a specific disease.
  • Immunization: A process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation.
  • Community Immunity: Immunity that occurs when people are protected by those around them. This type of protection is indirect in that it does not involve physical components of immunity, such as antibodies, but rather results when a pathogen is less likely to infect a susceptible person because of the high numbers of protected people around them.

Protect yourself and your family when traveling in the U.S. and abroad by getting all the required vaccinations for travel in other countries, making sure you are up to date on routine U.S. immunizations, and staying informed about any travel notices and alerts.

For more information about Travel Immunizations, visit Travelers' Health | CDC. To search for a location offering travel immunizations near you, use Find a Clinic | Travelers' Health | CDC.. We suggest making your search broad to ensure that you can see all options (search travel clinics in California, don’t specify the city as that will eliminate possible options near you).

As of January 10, 2025, the following clinics in neighboring counties may offer travel immunizations:

Getting a flu vaccine is an easy step to protect yourself and your community. To learn more and find out where you can get your flu vaccine, visit the California Department of Public Health’s Flu page

 

 

Children and Adolescents

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Adults

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Provider Resources

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Childcare and Schools

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Public Health Immunization Trainings and Resources

The Public Health Immunizations Unit provides training and resources to many community partners in Santa Cruz County. Below are some examples of trainings and resources:

  • Promoting an Immunization-Forward Practice Training 
  • Immunization communications materials for parents and guardians
  • School and Child Care Required Immunizations Tracking and Reporting Training 
  • Clinical Immunizations Skills Training 

If you are interested in training or learning more about immunization resources, please email us at immunizations@santacruzcountyca.gov