San Francisco will eventually require children aged 5-11 to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain public indoor spaces, but not anytime soon.
Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco's acting health officer, told younger children’s parents in a town hall on Tuesday night that it will be "no sooner than eight weeks" before 5-to-11-year-olds are subject to the same requirements as people aged 12 and older entering gyms, restaurants and entertainment venues.
"We definitely want to wait and make sure children have an opportunity to get vaccinated, so that will happen no sooner than about eight weeks after the vaccine is available to kids," Philip said during the meeting. "So there will be a limited time in which there will not be those requirements as our plan. But at some point, 5-to-11-year-olds will also have to show proof of vaccination to access some of those settings."
The San Francisco Department of Public Health told KCBS Radio in a statement on Wednesday night it will "reexamine" city "vaccination and masking requirements" after now-eligible children "have had adequate time to become vaccinated."
San Francisco considers a U.S. Centers for Disease Control card, a photo of the card, a record from a healthcare provider or a state-provided QR code to be acceptable proof of vaccination. Restaurants, gyms, large indoor events like Golden State Warriors games and any San Francisco business serving food or drink indoors must verify proof of vaccination under a city health order.
The public health department told KCBS Radio on Wednesday night that children aged 5-11 "would not be penalized" for not having a photo ID, as is currently the case for children over 12.
San Francisco children could start getting vaccinated on Wednesday, after the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup backed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC findings that the two-dose Pfizer vaccine was safe and effective for children aged 5-11.
Philip said on Tuesday it would be a "matter of days," and no more than two weeks, for parents to be able to book appointments for their children.
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