COVID-19 Information for Patients

COVID-19 Vaccines

The 2023 updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are expected to become available in late September, pending federal approval and authorization. The schedule for updated COVID-19 boosters has moved to an annual cycle, starting in the fall, coinciding with the annual flu shot season, as well as new shots protecting high-risk, older individuals against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As of August, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has not yet issued official guidance and recommendations for these new COVID-19 vaccines/boosters. 

COVID-19 vaccines are your best chance to avoid serious illness. Please contact your primary care provider via MyChart or by calling (805) 681-7500  to schedule a vaccine appointment or to discuss your vaccine options. For patients under 17 years old, please call the Pediatrics Department at (805) 563-6211. You can also check myturn.ca.gov and local pharmacies for vaccine availability. 

Everyone age 6 months and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent vaccines are available for people ages 6 months +

• Novovax primary series is available for people ages 18 years +

Everyone age 5 years and older, who completed an initial vaccine series, is eligible for a booster:

• Pfizer-BioNTech booster is available for people ages 5 years +

• Moderna booster is available for people ages 6 years +

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, read the CDC’s overview of COVID-19 vaccines. To discuss your vaccine options, speak to your primary care provider.

Masking

Our policy is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Community Levels, and is intended to provide guidance that should be considered along with your unique, personal circumstances. 

Regardless of our policy, any patient, staff or visitor who wants to wear a mask, should continue to do so. If you prefer the staff or providers assisting you to be masked, please let us know when you check in to your appointment, so that we can respect your wishes and have those caring for you wear a mask.

Regardless of COVID-19 community levels, masks are REQUIRED in the following situations:

• If you have respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose, sore throat)

• If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should wear a mask for 10 days

Questions or Concerns? If you have any questions or concerns about our mask policy, speak to a member of your care team or complete our feedback form.

Visitor Policy

Patients coming to Sansum Clinic may bring up to 2 healthy visitors at a time. Visitors must comply with posted masking requirements throughout the visit.

COVID-19 Testing

For mild respiratory symptoms, testing before travel or a medical procedure, or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please consider using an at-home antigen test. 

PCR testing is available at Sansum Clinic when directed by a provider. To learn more, contact your primary care provider.

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home and follow the self-isolation guidelines from the CDC.

Sansum Clinic Urgent Care located at 215 Pesetas Lane offers elective rapid COVID-19 testing for personal use. There is a fee of $100 due prior to time of the test that will not be billable to health insurance. Test results take approximately 20 minutes and a printed copy will be provided. An appointment is required and can be scheduled through MyChart or by calling (805) 563-6110. 

You can also check myturn.ca.gov/testing for information about local testing sites.