COVID-19 Resource Center / Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 FAQs
- COVID-19 Testing
- COVID-19 Testing
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- Masking Information
- Surgery & Other Procedures
- Family Member/Caregiver Guidance
To get a COVID-19 diagnostic test at Stanford Health Care, contact your primary care provider through MyHealth.
COVID-19 antibody testing is also available and requires a doctor's order. You'll need to go to a blood draw clinic. Contact your care team for more information.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, such as difficulty breathing, seek emergency care.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms, an at-home self-test is recommended.
You may also contact your primary care provider through MyHealth to request a COVID-19 test.
Access your diagnostic test result through MyHealth. On the MyHealth app home screen, tap on the “Tests” icon. Then tap the message titled “2019 Novel Coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2).” Your diagnostic test result will be available there.
If you are using the MyHealth web portal, click on “MY MEDICAL RECORD” and then “Test Results.” Click the message titled “2019 Novel Coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2).” Your diagnostic test result will be stated there.
If you test positive for COVID-19 infection, you will receive a notification via MyHealth. Contact your care team for medical guidance.
If you do not have a MyHealth account, you can create one at no cost. Call the MyHealth team for assistance at 1-866-367-0758.
If you choose not to create a MyHealth account, to access your negative test result you will need to call Clinical Advice Services at 650-724-9400. Clinical Advice Services will relay your request to a nurse, who will call you back to deliver your negative test result.
Diagnostic results are typically available 3-7 days from the time of the test, depending on demand.
To view antibody test results, tap or click the message titled “SARS-COV-2, IgG & IgM” in the MyHealth app or web portal test results section.
Contact your care team through MyHealth or call 650-498-9000 if you have questions about your COVID-19 test result.
Contact your care team through MyHealth or call 650-498-9000 if you have questions about your COVID-19 test result.
A test for COVID-19 is not required prior to your office visit. If you have recently been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, notify your care team ahead of your appointment. They may recommend you reschedule your visit or seek testing.
A COVID-19 diagnostic test for active infection is required before most procedures. Contact your primary care provider to request a COVID-19 test or take an at-home antigen test to confirm that you no longer have COVID-19 prior to your procedure.
COVID-19 antibody testing is available with a doctor’s order. Antibody testing takes place at blood draw clinics. Contact your care team through MyHealth or call 650-498-9000 for more information.
Getting the vaccine
To schedule a vaccine appointment at Stanford Health Care, you must contact your primary care physician through MyHealth.
Many Stanford Health Care patients may have access to vaccine through commercial pharmacies or county resources beyond those offered by Stanford Health Care. We encourage you to get vaccinated where convenient and in the most safe and timely manner possible.
You can also check myturn.ca.gov to see if there are other vaccination sites with available appointments.
If you are a Stanford Health Care patient, your medical record will be updated in MyHealth. You can also access your vaccination records from our medical records department at 650-723-5721. If you are not a Stanford Health Care patient, please share your vaccination card with your doctor or nurse.
If you book an appointment with another provider and have an existing appointment at Stanford Health Care, please cancel your existing appointment. This will help open up our schedule and allow other people to book new appointments to be vaccinated.
Please visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for more information and resources about the COVID-19 vaccine. The website is hosted in multiple languages.
If you received a message to reschedule your vaccination appointment, please go to your MyHealth account or call 650-498-9000 to reschedule your appointment.
Please bring a form of identification to your vaccination.
We are not able to provide replacements for lost vaccine cards. You can get a copy of the record if you got the vaccine at a site run by Stanford Health Care. To get a copy:
Call the medical records office at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto: 650-723-5721
OR
If you have a MyHealth account, you can log in to a computer and print out your record. It won't print from the MyHealth app on a smartphone, unfortunately.
MyHealth is your online account connected to SHC. To get the record of your COVID-19 vaccination:
- Log in to MyHealth with your username and password on a laptop or desktop.
- Click on "My Medical Record" and "Immunizations."
- Look for the printer icon and click it. Print out the information.
About the COVID-19 vaccine
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help keep everyone safe and reduce the severity of the illness.
- Children 6 months to 4 years will be given either 3 doses of the updated bivalent Pfizer vaccine or 2 doses of the updated bivalent Moderna vaccine.
- Children 5 years old will be given either 2 doses of the updated bivalent Moderna vaccine or 1 dose of the updated bivalent Pfizer vaccine.
Stanford Health Care only offers the updated bivalent Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The original monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for use in the United States.
Vaccines work by teaching our immune systems to fight against infections. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine uses an mRNA strategy to teach your body to target the surface of the virus. Both have shown to help your body protect against COVID-19.
The two vaccines being offered are all highly effective at protecting against severe forms of COVID-19 that can result in hospitalization or death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that mRNA vaccines are being held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States. The only COVID-19 vaccines the Food and Drug Administration will make available for use in the United States are those that meet these standards.
These vaccines have demonstrated equivalent vaccine efficacy across all racial and ethnic backgrounds. This will continue to be tracked over the next two years.
Stanford Medicine is encouraged by the high level of racial and ethnic diversity represented in the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials. Pfizer has stated that approximately 42% of its 44,392 participants in its global COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials have a diverse background. Moderna has reported that it recruited more than 11,000 people from communities of color — 37% of its cohort — as well as 7,000 people over the age of 65. The Moderna vaccine had 100% efficacy in those aged 65 and older, and 100% efficacy in communities of color.
Yes, the updated bivalent vaccine targets the the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Stanford Medicine has access to all 3 vaccine manufacturers and can help you obtain J&J if necessary. Please discuss this with your healthcare provider to determine if you should receive a J&J dose.
There is some evidence that one dose of two-dose vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) can provide some protection against COVID-19 and is therefore better than not getting vaccinated at all. However, two doses of two-dose vaccines, given at the proper intervals, is still the U.S. recommendation. At this time, the CDC is also recommending a third shot for individuals with weak immune systems. Stanford Health Care will continue to follow CDC guidance for populations who may receive the booster dose. Please continue to check this website for updates.
Please remember that vaccines are just one of several tools to help end the pandemic. It is essential for everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, to continue using all the tools available to help stop the spread of infection, including covering mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, staying at least 6 feet away from others, testing when indicated, and following all guidance from state and county health officials.
As per CDC guidelines, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.
Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.
Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Source: CDC
Stanford Medicine recommends that people who are pregnant or lactating discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their primary care physician if they are uncertain regarding vaccination.
Yes. There is strong evidence that vaccination-induced immunity is significantly more protective than natural immunity. As the Delta variant continues to drive higher infection and death among the unvaccinated, vaccination is strongly recommended to ensure the safety of our community.
People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation.
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria for discontinuing isolation before getting vaccinated.
People who were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, or who were diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome, should typically wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: CDC).
Stanford Medicine recommends that persons who have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their primary care physician if they are uncertain regarding vaccination.
Individuals who develop COVID-19 after the first dose may receive their vaccine after their symptoms resolve and they have met criteria to discontinue isolation per CDC guidelines or they may choose to defer their second dose up to six weeks (42 days) after their first dose without having to repeat the full two-dose sequence. (Source: CDC).
About the COVID-19 booster shot
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster, including:
- Most individuals, depending on age, who received the monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, but have not yet received a dose of a bivalent vaccine.
- Everyone 5+ who has had their primary series; the bivalent booster should be given at least 2 months after any COVID vaccine or booster dose.
- Adults aged 65 and older who have received a single dose of a bivalent vaccine may receive one additional dose at least four months following their initial bivalent dose.
- People who are immunocompromised who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a single additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Additional doses may be administered at the discretion of their healthcare provider. However, for immunocompromised children 6 months through 4 years of age, eligibility for additional doses will depend on the vaccine previously received.
- Children 6 months and 5 years who have received the Moderna vaccine can get the updated Moderna booster.
- Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years who have received all 3 doses of the monovalent Pfizer vaccine can get the updated Pfizer booster, at least 2 months after completing their primary series.
“Third doses” are different than a “booster dose.” A booster is an added dose of a vaccine that is given to someone with a healthy immune system who built enough protection after being fully vaccinated. If that protection gradually decreases, a booster can help sustain it. Third doses are provided to individuals with compromised immune systems for whom the original vaccine dose was not sufficient to achieve protection from the virus.
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine may be given at the same time.
Because of reports of anaphylactic reactions in persons who received the COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials, the CDC has proposed the following guidance:
- Persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine or injectable therapy (intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous) should not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at this time.
- Persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine should not get that specific vaccine.
- Vaccine providers should observe patients after vaccination to monitor for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions:
- Persons with a history of anaphylaxis: 30 minutes
- All other persons: 15 minutes
- This recommendation does not apply to persons with other severe allergic reactions (for example: food allergies).
Stanford Medicine recommends that persons with a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their primary care physician. The CDC Interim Considerations document details more considerations.
- People who have completed their primary series and already received one dose off the bivalent vaccine.
- Children 6 months to 5 years who received the bivalent vaccine as their third shot in the primary series.
In alignment with the California Department of Public Health and local counties, Stanford Health Care is no longer requiring visitors, patients, and healthcare workers to wear a mask. However, we strongly recommend wearing one inside to help keep patients and the staff as safe as possible. Some departments, including those that serve high-risk patients, may continue to require masking.
If a patient or family member expresses a preference that health care workers wear a mask while providing direct care, we strongly encourage these requests to be honored.
Yes, anyone who enters our clinical facilities can request a surgical or N95 mask.
Masks are recommended for:
- People who have respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or runny nose
- People who are are riding on indoor public transportation, such as a bus or an airplane
- People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
For additional guidance about masking, visit our Masking Information page or the CDC.
Follow the instructions provided by your health care team.
Yes, we have specific protocols for where we see patients with COVID-19 symptoms. They are screened outside the emergency department, and, if admitted, are cared for in a negative-pressure, isolation room in a COVID-19-dedicated unit by a COVID-19 care team. This is separate from where we take care of surgical patients.
Please refer to our visitor policy for the latest information on visiting patients in the hospital.
In an effort to keep our patients and staff safe, our visitor policy has been updated.
The MyHealth app allows the patient to invite family or loved ones to monitor the patient’s hospital stay remotely. The care team will also be updating patients and their family during their hospitalization. Ask your health care team for more information.
Stanford Medicine has made an effort to co-locate COVID-19 patients within our hospital to increase safety. We are fortunate that we have been able to quickly activate space across each of our hospitals as dedicated COVID-19 units.
Interpreters can be included in your video visit. If you need an interpreter for your video visit, please let the clinic or your provider know in advance so they can make the appropriate preparations.
COVID-19 test results are available online through your MyHealth account. Staff will assist you in signing up, if necessary.
For billing inquiries, please contact our Customer Service Billing department at 1-800-549-3720.
Our telephone agents are ready to assist you. You can also message our billing department via your MyHealth account.
Please use your MyHealth app or visit myhealth.stanfordhealthcare.org.
Yes, patients will have a nasal swab for COVID-19 molecular testing before most procedures.
If you test positive:
- Your physician and care team will work with you to determine the care plan, considering factors such as the urgency of your procedure and the potential impact COVID-19 might have on your recovery.
- If it is decided that a surgery should be delayed, you will be given home quarantine and symptom-monitoring instructions and will need to be retested for COVID-19 prior to proceeding with surgery.
- If it is decided that a surgery should continue, our care teams will proceed with the utmost caution, including using enhanced personal protective equipment and patient isolation, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The teams will also follow county reporting requirements.
If patients are well and not experiencing any symptoms, they will have a nasal swab for COVID-19 molecular testing once before their procedure. However symptomatic patients will be tested as needed.
In an effort to keep our patients and staff safe, our visitor policy has been updated.
Stanford Health Care contracts with local hotels for our out of town guests. Please inquire with your health care team for resources.
Our Family Resource Center is here to help. You can reach us at 650-497-7100 or caregiver@stanfordhealthcare.org.