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Prioritizing your child's health is important for you as a parent and to Sutter County Public Health.

COVID-19 and Flu Clinic

Sutter County Public Health Clinics are open to the public (offering Flu, COVID-19, and school vaccines).
Local medical providers are now also vaccinating children 6 months and older. View the full list here (Spanish; Punjabi).

COVID-19 Prevention

A good, well-fitting mask helps protect children from COVID-19 and is especially important in schools. View CDPH Masking Tips for Children
Before sending your child to school each morning, monitor for symptoms. If they are symptomatic, keep them home and test them for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
- Report to your school immediately. They can provide you with further guidance on testing and what to do if your child tests positive.
- Review the CDPH Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for more information regarding isolation.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is a rare but serious illness in children and teens (younger than 21 years old) who had COVID-19 and develop inflammation in their bodies up to 8 weeks later (from CDPH).

Call your medical provider at the first signs of MIS-C symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

How do I get my child vaccinated?
There are many ways to get your eligible children vaccinated by either making an appointment or visiting a walk-in clinic. You can call your pediatrician or local health clinic to schedule your child's vaccination appointment. You can also visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to find a vaccine near you.
I have been hearing people talk about getting their child vaccinated, what are some things I should know?
The California Department of Public Health has created a compilation of videos answering some frequently asked questions. See below:
If my child already had COVID-19, do they still need to get the vaccine?
Scientists and doctors recommend that children and adolescents ages 5 and up get the vaccine, even if they have already had COVID-19. We don't know how long someone is protected from getting sick after recovering from the virus. And we don't know whether the immunity developed against one strain provides enough protections against new variants.

Here is what we know: These free, safe, and effective vaccines will help children fend off the worst outcomes of this infectious virus, including the highly contagious Delta variant.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?
Yes. Comprehensive clinical trials in more than 4,500 children ages 5-11 demonstrate the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group, resulting in a strong antibody response in children who received the vaccines.

Clinical trials began in June for 5-11-year-olds in which a lower dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was tested. Pfizer announced in late September that their data demonstrated the vaccine is safe and produces a significant immune response. After this thorough study and the clinical trials, the FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. The CDC and the Western States Scientific Review Group reviewed all data and both recommended the vaccine for all children ages 5-11.

There is consistent and real-world evidence of the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. The vaccine has been given safely to millions of youth since it was authorized for ages 16 and up last December and for ages 12 and up in May.
Is the vaccine for 5-11 year old children a different vaccine and what is the dosage?
The COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 contains a smaller amount of the same mRNA material that has been given safely to millions of youth since it was authorized for ages 16 and up last December and for ages 12 and up in May.

The dosage of Pfizer's 5-11 vaccine is in two, 10-micrograms (mcg) doses administered 21 days apart. This dosage is one-third of the adolescent and adult dose of two, 30-mcg doses.

The clinical trials demonstrated a robust antibody response and favorable safety outcomes in kids ages 5-11 who received the two-dose regimen.
My Child has tested positive, what do I do?
1. Follow the isolation guidance provided by California Department of Public Health.
2. Visit our Coronavirus Testing page to learn about COVID testing options.
3. Talk to their primary care provider if you are concerned about their health.
4. For questions and further guidance, please contact the Sutter County Public Health COVID Response Team at (530) 821-3085.
My Child Was Exposed at School, What Should I Know?
1. You will be contacted regarding the exposure by the school's staff. Expect questions regarding vaccination status, symptoms, and masking. This will help them determine if your child will need to quarantine.
2. Monitor your child for any symptoms including cough, fever, runny nose, etc. If your child has started showing symptoms, keep them home from school and let your school nurse or staff know IMMEDIATELY.
  - If your child has started showing symptoms, public health and your school staff will recommend that you test your child immediately.
3. Check-in with your child. Ensure that they understand what it means for them to stay at home and why they need to.
Where and how will the youth vaccine be administered?
California was allocated 1.2 million pediatric doses with additional supply from the federal government becoming available in the coming weeks. Distribution of these vaccines will be the same as throughout the vaccination effort with direct shipments to local health jurisdictions and providers.

Within Sutter County, it is important that you ask your Child's Primary Care Provider when they will be ready to administer COVID-19 vaccines to 5-11 year olds. Current providers offering vaccines to 5-11 year olds include Franklin Pharmacy, Riverside Pharmacy, Safe Save Pharmacy, Ampla Health, and Sutter County Public Health.
Who can I contact regarding CDPH mandate compliance and adherence by schools and school districts?
The COVID-19 Hotline 1.833.422.4255 is equipped to take incoming calls from the public seeking COVID related general information, resources, guidance details, and concerns. The Hotline is open Mon-Fri 8AM-8PM, Sa-Sun 8AM-5PM.

Note: Call Center Customer Service Representatives (CSR) provide callers who would like to report non-compliance concerns on COVID-19 related mitigation efforts with targeted resources. Calls of this type are carefully fielded and every effort is made to match the resource and appropriate contact to address their specific need or concern (e.g., CalOSHA, local schools districts, etc). The Call Center does not collect nor report complaints on behalf of the caller. The CSR provides responses either by phone or via email.

For information on schools, please visit the Safe Schools for All Hub, CDPH guidance is on the COVID-19 Guidance page.
Why is it important to get kids vaccinated?
Children are susceptible to serious complications from the virus and will benefit from the protection given by the vaccine. COVID-19 is the 8th leading cause of death for children ages 5-11. Children can also experience 'long COVID' and in some instances, the virus has caused Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), in which a hyperactive immune system that attacks the child's body.
Will younger kids experience the same symptoms as adolescents and adults?
After COVID-19 vaccination, some children, like adults, may have some mild side effects like soreness, headache, fever, chills. These are normal signs that your body is building immunity and, while they may affect your child's ability to do daily activities, they should go away in a few days.

Some people have no side effects at all. The risks from COVID-19 far outweigh the possible mild side effects from the vaccine.