Flu vaccines are now available at Kaiser Permanente locations across Northern California at no cost to members.
COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at flu clinics starting September 15 for members six months and older, also at no charge. Kaiser Permanente’s administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is based on the latest scientific evidence and clinical guidance from our physician experts and many other sources, including leading medical societies, according to a recent statement released to media outlets.
Protection from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is available for children as part of their routine childhood immunizations and for certain people over age 60 by appointment using Kaiser Permanente’s My Doctor Online portal.
Getting a vaccine is the best way to avoid complications, hospitalizations, and death from respiratory viruses, according to Connie Park, MD, an infectious disease physician and clinical lead for the seasonal respiratory program.
“I always get the flu shot. I always get the COVID-19 shot,” said Erica Barrueto of Oakland who got her flu shot on the second day it was available. “Preventive medicine is good medicine.”
If this year’s flu season is as bad as the last one, taking the time to drop into a nearby clinic should be on the top of everyone’s to-do list, Dr. Park said. The annual flu vaccine is recommended for most everyone 6 months and older.
“We’re expecting this year’s flu season to again be very busy,” said Dr. Park.
Like the previous season’s flu shot, this season’s vaccine is known as a three-component or trivalent vaccine that protects against three influenza viruses — two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus.
Last flu season was considered severe. Deaths from flu in California tripled over the previous year to 1,725, with 43 pediatric deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“During last year’s flu season, our rates for hospital admission were the highest we’ve seen in 15 years. And that included a high rate of pediatric complications and death,” Dr. Park said. “We saw some serious and rare complications among children, particularly neurologic complications, and those can be permanent.”
Dr. Park attributed the high number of flu infections and hospitalizations to low numbers of vaccines given — just 37% of Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California got vaccinated last year — and a “less than ideal match of the predicted flu vaccine to the virus that circulated.” The vaccination rate for Kaiser Permanente Northern California members up to age 18 was about the same as adults in the 2024-2025 season.
“People seem to be abandoning precautions by not getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Park.
In California last season there were 2,986 COVID-19 deaths statewide and 262 deaths from RSV. Deaths from all three viruses statewide were concentrated in people older than 64.
Dr. Park said she expects the flu to begin circulating early this year with cases rising quickly based on the flu season in Australia and New Zealand, which just ended. The flu there started circulating early, then infections doubled in May and June.
“So based on that, we will likely see lots of doctor’s visits and hospitalizations,” said Dr. Park. “One way to avoid that is to get your shots.”
