Vaccine Information

On October 1, 2021, California announced plans to require the COVID vaccine as a part of the mandated vaccines for students. Below are frequently asked questions to assist families with this new requirement. Additional information can be found at Vaccine Mandate, October 1, 2021.

SBCUSD remains committed to providing the best educational opportunities for our students in a safe and supportive environment. This information is intended to answer questions that families may have about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new vaccine requirement for students?
The vaccine is not currently required for students. After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants full approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children, the State of California plans to require students to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to attend schools in person. The vaccine mandate would begin with the school term after the vaccines have full approval from the FDA for the designated grade span (K-6 and 7-12).

Will students be required to get vaccinated now that a vaccine has emergency approval from the FDA?
No. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has authorized vaccination for the age group 5 through 11 years after the FDA’s emergency approval of a vaccine. The vaccine will not be mandated by the State of California until after the FDA gives full approval. We do not expect full implementation of this mandate until at least July 2022.

What authority does SBCUSD have with regards to public health mandates?
School districts, including SBCUSD, have no authority over state public health mandates.
While members of the Board of Education themselves may support the idea of a person’s choice to vaccinate or not, as a public institution, under current laws, the District is obligated to follow orders issued by the California Department of Public Health.

Does this apply to private schools as well?
Yes, all K-12 public and private schools in California must comply with the mandate. This does not apply to preschool.

Aren’t teachers and other school employees already required to be vaccinated?
School employees are currently required to prove they have been vaccinated or to test weekly. Once the FDA gives full approval to the vaccine for grades 7-12 grade and the State of California mandates vaccination for students, employees will be required to be vaccinated unless they have a legitimate exemption on file with the District. No testing alternative will be allowed when the plan for the mandate is implemented.

Are there any exceptions?
Yes, there will be three types of exemptions to the vaccination mandate. Exemptions may be granted for 1. medical reasons and 2.personal reasons and 3. religious beliefs. SBCUSD is currently researching the exemption options to provide guidance for families who cannot or do not agree with vaccination for their children.

How can a person voice their opposition to the vaccination mandates issued by the state?
Contact your state representative or the Governor’s office to register your concerns about any of the orders or directives issued by state agencies that have authority over such matters. SBCUSD and its Board of Education have no authority over the implementation of a public health mandate.

Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2841, Fax: (916) 558-3160

Assemblymember Eloise Gomez-Reyes
290 North D Street, Suite 903
San Bernardino, CA 92401
(909) 381-3238

Assemblymember James Ramos
10350 Commerce Center Drive, Suite A-200
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 476-5023

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
10350 Commerce Center Drive, Suite A-220
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 919-7731


If my child has already had COVID-19, do they still need to be vaccinated? Why?
Yes, if the vaccine receives full FDA approval and the State of California enacts the mandate, all students will be required to be vaccinated in order to attend school in person. While getting COVID-19 may offer some natural immunity from reinfection, it is not clear how long the immunity lasts. Because children can still get reinfected with COVID-19 and have medical complications, the CDC recommends that those who have had COVID-19 get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are able. If your child received monoclonal antibody treatment or convalescent plasma for COVID-19, it is recommended to wait 90 days before getting vaccinated.

Where can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5 years-and older. The vaccine is available through local clinics, pediatricians, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers. Check these websites for more information about vaccination clinics near you:

https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/
https://myturn.ca.gov/
https://www.vaccines.gov/


Residents Can See Both Stationary and Mobile Pop-up Sites
In addition to 14 ongoing County stationary sites distributing doses every week from Tuesday through Saturday, San Bernardino County residents can also use a new interactive map to find any of the mobile, pop-up events happening almost daily from the valley to the deserts.

This online map dashboard shows the sites and dates of all upcoming mobile vaccination events (best seen in Chrome). The stars on the map indicate the stationary vaccine sites throughout our county.

Along with the mobile and stationary sites, there are dozens of hospitals, health centers, clinics, pharmacies, and now even high schools, that are offering vaccine doses.

Finally, there are participating pharmacies administering doses throughout the county, including Albertsons, Costco, Ralphs, Rite-Aid, Sav-On, Vons, Walgreens, and Walmart, as well as many independent pharmacies. Individuals should check directly with their preferred, neighborhood pharmacy, or again, check the list at sbcovid19.com/vaccine.


Now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized vaccines for COVID-19 and their distribution has begun, we know SBCUSD families and staff are looking for facts about the COVID-19 vaccines and other pertinent information. We recognize that vaccination decisions are personal choices and we want to make finding the information you need to make that choice easier to find. 

The San Bernardino City Unified  School District (SBCUSD) aims to provide the best resources from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and San Bernardino County Public Health Department, among other local healthcare partners, concerning the COVID-19 vaccine, so parents, students, and staff can stay informed.

In the coming weeks, look to this web page for additional information that may include surveys, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and much more. 

All information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be considered as District endorsement for the vaccine. 



Web Resources 

Local Vaccination Locations

(For residents of San Bernardino County)

Local Vaccination Locations

(For employees living in Riverside County)


Ahora que la Agencia de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los EE.UU. ha autorizado vacunas para el COVID-19 y su distribución ha comenzado, sabemos que las familias y los empleados del SBCUSD están buscando información correcta sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19 y otra información pertinente. Reconocemos que las decisiones sobre la vacunación son personales y queremos que puedan encontrar la información que necesitan más fácil.

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de la Ciudad de San Bernardino (SBCUSD) se esmera por brindar los mejores recursos de los CDC, el Departamento de Salud Pública de California y el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de San Bernardino, entre otros socios de atención sanitaria locales, sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19, para que los padres, alumnos y empleados puedan mantenerse informados.

En las próximas semanas, revise este sitio web para mayor información que puede incluir encuestas, preguntas frecuentes y mucho más. 

Toda la información provista es solo para fines educativos y no tiene la intención de considerarse como un respaldo del Distrito para la vacuna.

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