At Palomar Health Medical Group, your health, safety, and ongoing care are always top priority. Please play your part in helping to keep our community safe. We are all in this together!

To find the most accurate and current information about coronavirus, please visit

• Centers for Disease Control
• San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency

Second Booster Shot Now Available for Some People

The CDC now recommends a second booster shot for people over 50, those who are immune-compromised, and those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It must be at least 4 months since you got your first booster. See if you’re eligible at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0328-covid-19-boosters.html.

Find out where to get a second booster at https://www.vaccines.gov/. Palomar Health Medical Group no longer providers COVID vaccines or boosters.

California Department of Health Updated Guidance for the Use of Face Masks

Effective March 1, 2022, California’s requirement that unvaccinated individuals mask in indoor public settings will move to a strong recommendation that all persons, regardless of vaccine status, continue indoor masking. However, universal masking shall remain required in specified high-risk settings, including health care facilities such as Palomar Health Medical Group. See https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx 

Therefore, please remember that masks are still required upon entering any Palomar Health Medical Group – Graybill or Palomar Health Medical Group facility.

COVID-19 Update

We are currently experiencing high call volumes and limited staffing as a result of COVID-19. It is our goal to keep our patients healthy and safe and we appreciate your patience in helping us to better support all of you. We are trying our best to reserve our limited resources and are prioritizing calls and appointments for our patients with the most serious needs. Please know that we will return all messages as timely as possible.

During this current surge, we respectfully ask you to hold any non-urgent questions until your next appointment. We will gladly address issues then. If your matter is more pressing, please call.

Vaccines and Boosters

Palomar Health Medical Group does not offer the COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage all eligible patients to get the vaccine and booster, which is available at many convenient locations throughout the county. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available at no cost.

Vaccine Locations

Vaccine Eligibility

Testing

We are following CDC and CDPH guidelines and due to an increased demand we are not able to offer COVID testing for all patients who request one. To locate a testing site near you, please visit the County of San Diego website here.

If you are experiencing serious symptoms like shortness of breath, call 9-1-1.

 What should I do if I had a known exposure or positive test result?

Adults under age 65 who have mild respiratory symptoms should assume they have COVID-19 and isolate accordingly. If you have underlying health conditions or are pregnant and experiencing COVID symptoms, we ask that you call ahead to schedule time with your doctor or visit urgent care.

If you have received a positive result from an at-home COVID-19 test, please isolate. You do not need another test to confirm this result. The state health order states that at-home tests are acceptable for determining if you may stop isolating. Please check with your school, employer and others on their requirements for a safe return.

Parents: If your child was exposed at school but does not have symptoms, please follow your child’s school guidelines regarding testing. You do not need to contact your child’s doctor for another test.

Isolation Guidelines

San Diego County has issued a health order that directs those people who have, or are likely to have, COVID-19 should isolate for up to 10 days, regardless of vaccination status. This means you should isolate if you received a positive test for COVID-19 or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. The order has provisions for people with and without symptoms who undergo repeat testing as well as for those who do not perform a repeat test.

Outpatient Therapies

Oral antiviral medications and monoclonal antibodies may help reduce the risk of developing severe illness in high-risk patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.

Visit here to learn more and see if you are eligible.

Updated Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Booster Shots

The CDC recently issue the following update on  COVID-19 vaccine booster shots:

If you previously got 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, you can get a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine if you fall into one of these groups:

• You’re 65 and older,
• You’re 18+ and have certain underlying medical conditions, or
• You’re 18+ and work or live in a high-risk setting.

You can get your booster shot at least 6 months after you complete your second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The booster shot can help strengthen and prolong your protection against COVID-19.

Learn more about who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot here.

Visit CDC.gov for more information on other groups already vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine that may be eligible for a booster shot.

Remember: The COVID vaccine and COVID booster shot are available for everyone at no cost.

To find out where and how to get a COVID-19 booster shot, visit My Turn – California COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling & Notifications or https://myturn.ca.gov. Palomar Health Medical Group – Graybill is not administering COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 booster shots.

Read the latest updates regarding COVID-19 vaccine availability and distribution.

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination

Pharmacists are highly trusted and trained healthcare providers who have direct access to and knowledge of their patient populations. Pharmacists are trained to counsel patients, administer vaccine, and provide vaccine education, and pharmacies are readily accessible in communities – with most Americans living within five miles of a pharmacy. Recognizing this, the federal government has made pharmacies a key part of its COVID-19 vaccination strategy. While the program will ultimately expand to include more than 40,000 pharmacies, it is important to know that early on, when vaccine supply is still limited, many pharmacies may not have vaccine or may have very limited supply.

Here is a link for Retail Pharmacies that are receiving federal allocations of the Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen COVID Vaccines. The link also includes pharmacy scheduling links.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/FedRetailPharmProgVacAppt.aspx 

Graybill COVID-19 Vaccine Program Discontinued

Due to changes in the State of California COVID-19 vaccine distribution program, Graybill Medical Group’s COVID-19 vaccine program has been discontinued. For information on how and where to get vaccinated, go to:

• Myturn.ca.gov – Register here to receive updates about new appointments and locations. Note: My Turn is available in eight languages, and for those without internet access, appointments can be made by calling (833) 422-4255. The hotline is available in English and Spanish, with third party translators available in more than 250 additional languages.
• Vaccinefinder.org – Find a nearby location where you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY UPDATES

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Key things to know about COVID-19 vaccines
• Understanding how vaccines work

California Department of Public Health

• Updated COVID-19  Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines
• Blueprint for a Safer Economy

San Diego County Department of Public Health

• List of San Diego County Vaccine Sites and Appointment Information
• COVID-19 testing in San Diego County

Riverside County Public Health

• List of Riverside County Vaccine Sites and Registration Information
• COVID-19 testing in Riverside County