Clinical & Communicable Disease Services

Shots for School

Parents must show proof of their child's immunizations prior to school admission. The Public Health Department offers a variety of vaccines, including those required by California schools.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Every Woman Counts is a statewide program that arranges, directs, and pays for screenings for uninsured and underinsured women in an effort to reduce breast and cervical cancer mortality rates in California. This includes free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and pap tests.

Communications to Providers

The Public Health Department communicates with local health care providers in several ways:

Provider Notices are issued as needed to communicate important news;  the Public Health Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter with topical information for both providers and consumers, including quarterly statistics of reported cases of select communicable diseases; and the Laboratory Messenger is a monthly newsletter providing containing current news of interest for clinicians and laboratorians. 

Disease Reporting for Healthcare Providers and Laboratories

The Public Health Department responds to reports of communicable diseases in San Luis Obispo County. Physicians and health care providers are legally required to report suspected, lab-confirmed, and clinical diagnoses of specific diseases and conditions within specified time frames to the client’s county of residence.

Get My Vaccine Record

You can get a Digital Vaccine Record online at the California Department of Public Health website.

Here's how:

  1. Fill out a short online form at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.
    • You will be asked to enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and the cell phone or email address associated with your vaccine record.
    • Then you'll create a 4-digit pin number.
  2. You will be sent a link (via text or email) to retrieve your digital vaccine card and will be asked for the pin number you created.
  3. You can save your digital vaccine record by taking a screenshot and saving it to your photos, files, camera roll, etc. (You can also re-submit your request to access your Digital Vaccine Record at a later time.)

HIV/AIDS Testing

The Public Health Department works to minimize the number of new HIV infections and maximize the number of people living with HIV who have access to appropriate care, treatment, support, and prevention services. 

We provide confidential and anonymous testing, prevention methods (including PrEP and PEP), partner notification services, and referrals as needed.

PrEP Assistance Program

You can get PrEP at Public Health to help protect yourself from HIV.  PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication you can take regularly to reduce your chances of getting HIV. We can help you sign up for the California PrEP Assistance Program (CA PrEP-AP), which helps pay for the medicine and its related costs. 

Mpox (Monkeypox) in SLO County

MPOX virus under microscope

Mpox (Monkeypox)

Mpox (previously called monkeypox) is a disease caused by a relative of the smallpox virus.  It spreads primarily through close, intimate, often skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact, with people who have Mpox symptoms such as rash and sores.

The Public Health Department is closely following this issue, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and CDC, and will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

The Public Health Department provides friendly, confidential, free or low-cost reproductive and sexual health services and birth control for women, men and teens. This program seeks to reduce unintended pregnancy by providing access to the information, clinical preventive services and resources necessary to ensure that all pregnancies are healthy, well-timed and intended. The Department works to prevent the spread of STDs by providing STD testing, treatment and education. This includes:

... and more. 

State Disability Insurance (SDI) Claims

San Luis Obispo County residents who must isolate due to COVID-19 or another communicable disease and would like to obtain state disability insurance benefits must submit Form DE2501 to  California's Employment Development Department (EDD). This form requires a physician attestation. If you cannot access a physician to complete the form, you may request an official physician attestation from the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department. This applies to SDI claims only; this does NOT apply to claims for Paid Family Leave.

For a physician attestation, Please send an email to [email protected] with the following information: 

  • Full name 
  • Phone Number 
  • Attach your claimant’s statement DE2501 

STD Testing and Treatment

Public Health provides friendly, low-cost, and confidential (private) STD testing, treatment, and education. You can get an STD test, get treatment if needed, and learn how to protect yourself and your partners from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and others. 

Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART)

The Suspected Abuse Response Team (SART) helps people who experience sexual assault, child abuse, or neglect by providing immediate and compassionate medical exams. Forensic medical exams are available with or without law enforcement involved.

Travel Shots

The Public Health Department offers a variety of vaccines for your foreign travel. Make an appointment, ideally 4-6 weeks before your trip, to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

The Public Health Department provides tuberculosis clearance testing–also known as a TB test–for work, school or volunteer activities. We also provide consultations to medical providers community members about the diagnosis and treatment of both TB infection and TB disease. 

Latent Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment

The Public Health Department offers treatment for latent TB, sometimes called inactive TB or LTBI. This type of TB is not contagious but can lead to serious illness. Most people with latent TB don't know they have it. It is a dormant, or "asleep," version of the disease that does not make you sick right away. Untreated latent TB germs can "wake up" and cause active infection. Treating latent TB takes time, but we will be there to support you along the way!

If you are a healthcare provider, you can find treatment guidance from the California Tuberculosis Controllers Association and contact us for consultation if needed. 

Vaccines & Immunizations

The Public Health Department offers a wide range of vaccinations, including shots for school or for foreign travel. Vaccinations are available by appointment at three clinic locations.

For information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit our COVID-19 vaccines page or call our office at (805) 781-5500.

Valley Fever

Valley Fever, otherwise known as Coccidioidomycosis or Cocci, is a disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus that grows in soil and dirt, called Coccidioides. The fungus becomes airborne when dirt is moved via digging, wind, or other activities that create dust. Once in the air, it can be inhaled by people or animals. This fungus is highly endemic (i.e., regularly occurring) to Arizona and primarily found in the central valley and central coast regions of California, including San Luis Obispo County. 

Zika Information

The Public Health Department continues to closely monitor the evolving Zika virus situation and recommends residents be aware of risks associated with travel to areas with Zika virus transmission and what precautions they should take.

Health care providers may find information about Zika virus testing services available at our County Public Health Laboratory in this Specimen Collection and Transport fact sheet or by calling (805) 781-5507.