Vaccines have saved lives for over 100 years

Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest actions you can take to protect the health and wellbeing of yourself and others. The CDC carefully reviews safety data before recommending any vaccine and then continues to monitor its safety. Some vaccines are even required for school, work, travel, and more.

General FAQs

Protect your family with routine childhood vaccinations

Chickenpox is a mild disease for many children, but not all. There’s no way to know who will have a serious, or even life-threatening, case. The chickenpox vaccine became available in the U.S. in 1995, and cases of the disease have become rare thanks to routine vaccination. All 50 states require that children get vaccinated against chickenpox or have proof of immunity to attend childcare or public school.

Chickenpox (varicella)

Protect yourself and others

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. The most recently updated COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the latest variants of the virus. Even though federal emergency funding for COVID-19 has ended, most Californians will still receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost or low cost through their health insurance plans. If you don’t have insurance, or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn can help you find a location that offers vaccines at no cost or low cost.

COVID-19

DTaP vaccines protect babies and young children against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). Before the vaccines were developed, these serious and life-threatening diseases were widespread in the U.S. Today, all 50 states require that children receive DTaP vaccines to attend childcare and public school.

DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis/whooping cough)

Fight flu with an annual vaccine

Flu vaccination helps prevent illness, sick days, hospitalization, and even death—especially for people with chronic health conditions. Flu viruses are constantly changing, so yearly vaccination is needed for the best protection, ideally in September and October.

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus. Children under 6 years old who get hepatitis A usually don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others without anyone knowing they were infected. Thanks to hepatitis A vaccines, the number of cases has dropped dramatically since the 1980s. Many states require that children get vaccinated against hepatitis A to attend childcare and public school. It is not currently required for school entry in California.

Hepatitis A

Protect yourself and your family with routine vaccinations

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. For many people hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others it can become a serious, lifelong illness. The younger a person is when infected, the greater the risk of developing long-term hepatitis B. Most states, including California, require that children get vaccinated against hepatitis B to attend childcare and public school.

Hepatitis B

Protect your family with early childhood vaccinations

Hib isn’t as well-known as some other diseases, but that’s thanks to widespread use of Hib vaccines. Before the vaccines became available, Hib was a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in babies and children younger than five years. Hib disease can cause brain damage, hearing loss, and even death. Since Hib vaccines became available, the number of new cases in children has fallen dramatically. All 50 states require that babies and young children receive at least 1 dose of Hib vaccine to attend childcare.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)

Lower your preteen’s risk of getting cancer in the future

HPV is a viral infection that can cause cancers later in life. HPV infections are very common – almost all adults will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives. Millions of people in the U.S., including teens, become infected each year. HPV vaccines are the best way to protect preteens against developing certain types of cancer in the future. California’s Cancer Prevention Act requires that all schools notify families of 6th graders about HPV vaccination recommendations.

HPV (human papillomavirus)

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. Rates of meningococcal disease have declined in the U.S. since the 1990s, but outbreaks still occur. Meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine is a routine childhood vaccine, and meningitis B vaccines are recommended for older teens and adults. Many states require 1-2 doses of meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine to attend middle-school, junior-high, high-school, and college. In California, it’s not currently required for all school entry, but some colleges are required to inform incoming students about the vaccine and some colleges may require vaccination.

Meningococcal (meningococcal (ACWY), meningitis B, and men B+ACWY)

MMR vaccines protect against measles, mumps, and rubella—three potentially serious diseases. Vaccines have made these diseases much less common in the U.S., but outbreaks of each one can still occur. Most people who are completely vaccinated will be protected for life. All 50 states require that children receive MMR vaccines to attend childcare and public school.

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)

Stay safe and stop the spread

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is caused by a virus that’s related to the virus that causes smallpox. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and stop the spread. Two doses of the mpox vaccine provide the best protection.

Mpox

Pneumonia vaccines can protect against a range of illnesses caused by pneumococcal bacteria, including ear and sinus infections, meningitis, and sepsis. Most of these infections are mild. However, some can result in long-term health problems or even death. The disease is common in young children, but older adults are at greatest risk of serious illness and death. Many states require that children get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease to attend child care. It is not currently required for child care entry in California.

Pneumonia (pneumococcal disease)

Polio used to be common and was one of the most feared diseases in the U.S. Today, the virus that causes polio has been eliminated in the U.S., thanks to vaccines. However, the disease still occurs in other parts of the world. Vaccination is the best way to keep everyone safe and maintain immunity in the U.S. All 50 states require that children get vaccinated against polio to attend childcare and public school.

Polio

Rotavirus was once the leading cause of severe diarrhea among babies and young children in the U.S. The disease resulted in hundreds of thousands of hospital and emergency room visits each year. Safe, effective rotavirus vaccines became available in 2006. The number of children getting sick with rotavirus fell dramatically after the vaccine, but rotavirus is very contagious and low vaccination rates can lead to outbreaks. Some states require that children get vaccinated against rotavirus to attend childcare. It is not currently required for childcare entry in California.

Rotavirus

Protection for babies, toddlers, and older adults 

RSV is a common virus that affects the lungs and usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people get better in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants, older adults, and people with certain health conditions are more likely to get very sick from RSV and need hospitalization. RSV is usually most severe in the fall and winter months. Talk to your health care provider or vaccination clinic to learn if RSV vaccination is right for you or any members of your family.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) 

Protect yourself from the pain and complications of shingles

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus). Once a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in their body. The virus can become active again later in life and cause shingles, a painful, itchy rash that develops on one side of the face or body. Someone who has shingles can even pass the virus on to those who’ve never had chickenpox or haven’t gotten the chickenpox vaccine. The shingles vaccine is available to all adults 50 years and older and adults 19 years and older with weakened immune systems.

Shingles

A Tdap booster protects preteens and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis). Before the vaccines were developed, these serious and often life-threatening diseases were widespread in the U.S. All 50 states require that older children receive Tdap boosters to attend middle-school, junior-high, and high-school.

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis/whooping cough)

Flu vaccine appointments are only available on My Turn during flu season, which typically lasts from early fall through late spring. Come back in the fall and schedule your yearly flu vaccine before peak flu season.

My Turn Flu will return for flu season

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Vaccine eligibility at a glance

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Additional resources

When life happens, My Turn makes it easy to change your vaccine appointment.

Manage your vaccination appointment

Not sure if your vaccines are up to date? Need to show proof you were vaccinated? Get a link to a QR code and digital copy of your vaccination records.

Access your Digital Vaccine Record (DVR)

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833-422-4255

More information about vaccination

We offer help in more than 250 languages. Call the California COVID-19 Hotline at:

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Appointments

Vaccine Locator

Testing sites

Federal emergency funding for COVID-19 has ended, but don’t worry. Nearly all insurance plans cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines. If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover routine vaccinations, My Turn will provide a list of locations that offer vaccines at no cost for the uninsured.

What’s new with COVID-19 vaccinations

Federal emergency funding for COVID-19 has ended, and the supply of free vaccines is nearly gone. But don’t worry. Most adults will still have access to the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through their insurance. State programs for the uninsured or under-insured are coming soon. Please contact your health care provider for more information.

The way COVID-19 vaccines are paid for is changing

Make an appointment

Go to Vaccine Locator

Find a walk-in clinic

Celebrate and stay safe! Protect yourself against mpox and the worst of its symptoms.

Kick off Pride Month with your mpox vaccination

The 2-dose mpox vaccine prevents infection and serious illness. It’s available to all ages and is especially recommended for people at high risk of exposure. <a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mpox.aspx" target="_blank" style="color: #4388C3">Learn more on the CDPH website</a>.

Protect yourself and your community against mpox

Visit Shots for School

Make sure your child is up to date on their routine vaccinations--and send them back to school safe, protected, and ready to learn. Visit Shots for School for information about California’s vaccination requirements for school and childcare. Then book an appointment with your child’s health care provider or on My Turn today.

A smart start to the new school year

California’s Vaccine Appointment Site

Get up to date, stay up to date

My Turn can help you find clinics that offer a range of vaccines and make an appointment to get multiple vaccinations during a single visit. To find a clinic that has the vaccine(s) you need, select the specific vaccine or the “Other vaccine(s)” option when scheduling your appointment.

Find more of the vaccines you need

My Turn

Anthrax

Chickenpox

DTaP

Meningococcal

Pneumonia

Smallpox

Tdap

My Turn supports a range of vaccine types and options for finding a clinic that meets all your needs. Make an appointment to get one or more vaccinations during a single visit. Or use our Vaccine Locator to find clinics and providers that accept walk-in patients, offer the vaccines you need, and provide vaccination services based on your insurance status and ability to pay. 

More ways to get vaccinated

Have questions about vaccines in general?

Can I take the flu vaccine at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine?

Frequently asked questions about vaccines

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Your actions save lives. Every vaccination counts in the fight against COVID-19. Already got your vaccine? Help a neighbor or family member schedule an appointment or find a walk-in clinic.See California’s progress at <a href="https://staging.covid19.ca.gov/" >https://covid19.ca.gov</a>.