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Keeping you healthy is our top priority.

Get the latest COVID-19 vaccine updates and information.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to select groups.

Steps we’re taking to vaccinate our community

Optum is committed to working with federal, state and local health officials to effectively distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to our patients.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has adopted the vaccine distribution recommendations as established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This phased roll-out plan may be modified by county and local public health departments.

As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we’re working proactively to keep our patients and community safe and healthy. Optum is closely following the progress of COVID-19 vaccine development to bring you updates as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, please continue to the follow proper precautions to reduce the risk of transmission.

Find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you

Effective January 13, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has revised its distribution guidelines as follows:

  • Continue vaccinating all persons in Phase 1a.
  • Begin vaccinating persons 65 years of age or older. Based on available supply, prioritize and target outreach efforts as follows:
    • Age, with persons 65 years or older prioritized due to increased risk of mortality and other severe disease
    • Occupational Risk Exposure, individuals working in sectors in Phase 1b, Tier 1 with high occupational exposure
    • Residence in vulnerable communities, as determined by the California Healthy Places Index or comparable local health department knowledge, to address equity and communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic

Based on vaccine availability, your county or local health department may follow a different distribution plan and timeline. For information on your eligibility and for details on vaccine distribution locations and how to schedule an appointment, please select your county or city from the list below. New information is being provided daily so please check back often for any updates on when and where you can get vaccinated.

Following your county or local health department guidelines, Optum patients may also select an Optum COVID-19 vaccine location.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility timeline

Phases and tiers will vary by county. Please check your county department of public health website for more information.

Phase 1A

  • Health care workers
  • Long-term care residents

Phase 1B

Phase 1B tier one
Phase 1B tier two
  • Individuals 65 and older
  • Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
    • Education
    • Childcare
    • Emergency services
    • Food and agriculture
  • Individuals 65 and older
  • Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
    • Transportation and logistics
    • Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services
    • Critical manufacturing
  • Congregate settings with outbreak risk:
  • Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
    • Incarcerated
    • Homeless

Phase 1C

  • Individuals 50 to 64 years of age
  • People 16 to 49 years of age and have an underlying health condition or disability which increases their risk of severe COVID-19
  • Those at risk of exposure at work in the following sectors:
    • Water and wastewater
    • Defense
    • Energy
    • Chemical and hazardous materials
    • Communications and IT
    • Financial services
    • Government operations / community-based essential functions

Phase 2

  • Individuals 16 to 49 years of age without high-risk medical conditions

FAQ’s about the COVID-19 vaccine

The vaccine can lower your chances of getting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been tested in clinical trials. It was approved because it can greatly lower the chances of getting COVID-19. Even if you do get COVID-19, experts believe that the vaccine will help protect you, so you don’t get really sick. Your body will be ready to fight the virus.

Help stop the pandemic.
Wearing a mask and social distancing are not enough to control the pandemic spread. Get the COVID-19 vaccine. We need to use all the tools we have to stop the pandemic. Even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, social distancing and handwashing will be still important.

Protect yourself.
COVID-19 is serious. People with COVID-19 are 10 times more likely to die than those with the flu. You can spread COVID-19 without looking or feeling sick. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you from the virus.

All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed.

It depends on the vaccine you get. There are several COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States. Most need two shots to work.

Yes. According to the CDC, you need to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when:

  • You’re with others outside your household
  • You’re in a health care facility (like a hospital, clinic, nursing home, etc.)
  • You get any vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine

Anyone who has trouble breathing or can’t remove a mask without help should not wear a mask. To learn more, see the CDC's considerations for wearing masks.

Not yet. There isn’t enough information right now to say if or when you can stop following CDC COVID-19 safety directions. Experts need to understand more about how COVID-19 vaccines work. Many things can affect what we need to do. For example, how many people get the vaccine and how the virus is spreading.

For a complete listing of our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ's click here.

Find the latest on COVID-19

Learn more about COVID-19, ways to protect yourself, answers to frequently asked questions and vaccine information.

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