San Diegans are continuing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu, and the supplies and availability of both vaccines remain plentiful this holiday season.
In the past week, 38,753 COVID-19 vaccinations and 63,149 flu shots have been administered.
As of Nov. 17, 2022, close to 2.69 million or 80.3% of San Diegans have received the primary series of one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Boosters have been administered to 1,495,492 or 60% of 2,491,808 eligible San Diegans.
Of those with boosters, the County is now tracking separately COVID-19 bivalent boosters. As of Nov. 17, 2022, 15.1 percent of eligible San Diegans have received a bivalent booster.
As of Nov. 12, 2022, 813,065 San Diegans have received a flu vaccination, which is 24.3 percent of the 3,351,784 eligible. This year’s flu shot uptake is slightly higher when compared to the same time last year when 23 percent of the eligible population had received a flu vaccine.
It takes about two weeks after vaccination until the body develops sufficient immunity against both vaccinations.
“I want to congratulate all of those who have recently been vaccinated against the flu or COVID-19, including those newly boosted, and encourage the community to help us improve on that progress,” said Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Don’t let flu or COVID-19 ruin your family reunions this holiday season. You have the ability to protect yourself, your family, and your community.”
COVID-19 and flu vaccines are widely available across the region at pharmacies, medical centers and clinics. The two vaccines can be administered during the same visit. It is important to note that the COVID-19 primary vaccine series or booster does not protect against the flu and the flu vaccine does not protect people against COVID-19. Therefore, it is recommended that eligible San Diegans get vaccinated against both viruses.
There is no vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but established disease prevention measures can protect people from getting ill with any of the multiple respiratory viruses now circulating in the community.
These measures include:
- Consider a well-fitting, good-quality mask, especially indoors or in crowded spaces;
- Wash hands thoroughly and often;
- Use hand sanitizers, if unable to wash hands;
- Stay away from sick people;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Clean commonly touched surfaces; and
- Stay home and avoid contact with others, if you are sick.
Data updates to the County’s coronavirus-sd.com website will be published Thursdays around 5 p.m., with the exception of holidays. More information about the flu is available on the County’s influenza website at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/immunization_branch/Vaccine_Preventable_Diseases/Seasonal_Influenza/.
(County of San Diego Communications Office Release)
