What's at stake?
In response to changes at the CDC, California has issued new vaccine recommendations that differ from federal guidance on COVID-19 vaccines. The new recommendations do not require Fresno County citizens or schools to receive any new immunizations.
California issued new vaccine recommendations this week, rejecting recent changes to federal guidance and establishing the state’s ability to base future immunization guidance on information it deems credible.
Additionally, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 144 on Wednesday, allowing California to create its own immunization recommendations and schedules independently from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s what these changes mean for Fresno and how you can prepare for the coming Flu season.
Do the new recommendations require students in Fresno County to get any new vaccinations?
No, the vaccine recommendations by the WCHA and the CDC do not add or change any requirements in vaccine schedules used by schools in Fresno County.
“Our policies and practices center around required immunizations rather than vaccine recommendations,” said Kelly Avants, chief communication officer for Clovis Unified. “This CA-Federal dichotomy is around suggested vaccines, which is a different conversation than what we are typically having with families.”
The COVID-19 vaccine is also not required for students to attend school in California. Click here to view which vaccines are required to attend TK-12 in the state.
To view the WCHA’s immunization guidance for the 2025-2026 flu season, click here.
Similarly, the new recommendations also do not make any changes to medical exemptions for immunizations in California. Medical exemptions for vaccines by reason of personal beliefs were eliminated in California in 2016 under SB-277.
Why does California have different vaccine recommendations?
The new vaccine guidance issued on Wednesday was done through the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), a collaboration between California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii that launched earlier this month as a response to changes to the CDC by United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Specifically, the WCHA has taken issue with Kennedy expelling the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and other firings at the federal agency.
The new guidance comes as test positivity rates for COVID-19 have spiked in Central California in recent months. COVID-19 test positivity levels reached 16.5% at the start of September, an increase over July’s 9.35%.
Are there new required vaccines?
No, California’s new recommendations do not require you to get any new vaccinations.
What’s different between California and the CDC’s vaccine guidance?
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the Food and Drug Administration now requires those under the age of 65 with no underlying health problems to talk with healthcare providers before getting the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine.
Parents of healthy children must also consult a provider before their child can receive the vaccine.
Also, the CDC’s vaccine schedule now offers no guidance for pregnant women regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
The WCHA recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all children between 6 and 23 months and for children 2 years and up who’ve never been vaccinated against COVID-19. It also recommends the vaccine for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum.
Moreover, the vaccine is recommended for nearly all adults.
More details on recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine as well as the Flu and RSV vaccines, can be found here.
Where are vaccines being offered in Fresno?
While changes are being made at the state and federal level, vaccines for COVID-19 and Influenza are available throughout Fresno County.
For members of Kaiser Permanente, the latest COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost to anyone over 6 months old.
This year’s flu shot will also be available for free at vaccination clinics throughout Fresno County as part of a partnership between the Fresno County Department of Public Health, UCSF Fresno and Saint Agnes Medical Center.
The first vaccination clinic will be hosted on Sept. 25 at Dunlap Elementary School. Click here to see the complete schedule for the county’s flu clinics.
UCSF’s Mobile HeaL clinic also provides vaccinations free of charge around Fresno County. Moreover, they provide health screenings, basic wound care and other health services for free.
Click here to view their weekly schedule and locations.
Looking for more than just the Flu and COVID-19 vaccine? Click here to access My Turn, a search tool to find sites near you with available vaccines.
