San Francisco Health Service System board urges members to get COVID‑19 vaccine, asks plans for outreach

The San Francisco Health Service System board voted unanimously Aug. 12 to urge eligible members — including employees of four employer groups, eligible retirees and their dependents — to receive COVID‑19 vaccination and to ask SFHSS health plans to conduct proactive outreach to unvaccinated members.

The board’s executive director, Abby Yant, told commissioners the resolution was developed with input from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Resources and was meant as another tool to encourage vaccination among SFHSS members. The resolution’s three ‘‘resolved’’ clauses ask SFHSS members to receive or complete vaccination, ask health plans and their providers to conduct proactive and ongoing outreach, and ask plans to provide ongoing reporting on member vaccination rates, COVID‑19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Why it matters: The board represents benefit coverage for employees and retirees of multiple city entities and said the resolution is aimed at protecting members and limiting COVID‑19‑related disruption to the workforce. Yant said the new City and County of San Francisco health order — issued earlier the same day — requires vaccine verification at many indoor settings and staff will circulate the order to members.

Board action and follow‑up: Commissioner Randy Scott moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and the board adopted it unanimously after a public‑comment period in which no callers spoke. Commissioners asked staff to clarify how the message will be communicated; Yant said SFHSS has shared materials with providers and employer HR departments and will work on amplifying direct messaging to members and posting the resolution on the HSS website. The board recorded no dissent and no roll‑call vote tally was provided in the record.

Context and limitations: The resolution is an urging action and does not create mandates or change employment policy; Yant noted that vaccination as a condition of employment is governed separately and will take effect after FDA full approvals as applicable. The resolution asks plans for ongoing reporting but does not specify reporting cadence or the exact data fields; staff said those operational details will be developed with plan partners and reported back to the board.

What’s next: Staff said it will pursue direct communications to members through employers and will post materials online. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9.