With restrictions lifting across the country; three federally approved vaccines; and President Joe Biden’s promise that all Americans will be eligible to sign up by May 1, there is both optimism and hope. But finding an appointment can be tricky. Scratch that: Finding an appointment can be very hard—but we’re here to help. Here are dozens of sites you can check for COVID-19 vaccine availability.
City and state-run sites
If you’re looking for a COVID vaccine in your city or state, your best bet is to check locally run sites. New York City, for example, has a robust and easy-to use vaccine finder tool, as does California. Pennsylvania has a vaccine provider map, which shows real-time information for sites offering first doses, and both Florida and Illinois offer vaccine location tools. To determine if your state has a locally run website, Google your state’s name plus the key phrase “vaccine finder” or “vaccine location.”
Vaccine finder
Not sure if your city or state has a dedicated website? Vaccine Finder has you covered. Launched in 2021 and operated by Boston Children’s Hospital with full support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vaccine Finder will help you find clinics, pharmacies, and other locations that offer COVID-19 vaccines in your neighborhood. The best part? The website is updated daily.
Pharmacy-based searches
Dozens of pharmacies will soon offer (or are now administrating) the COVID-19 vaccine, including CVS, Rite-Aid, Good Neighbor, Walgreens, and Duane Reade. However, finding an appointment on one of these sites can be tricky, particularly if you are young or newly qualified, as the ability to receive the vaccine at these sites is limited. Walgreens, for example, is following state-specific vaccination requirements for retail pharmacies. This may prevent some otherwise-eligible patient populations from being able to receive a vaccination from Walgreens at this time. The good news is that many of these companies will let you sign up for appointment availability reminders, meaning you will receive an email if and when new doses are available. You can also check each site on a regular basis, which is (admittedly) cumbersome but can come in handy. And, if you live particularly close, you can call or stop in at the end of the night. If you’re lucky and there are doses leftover, you may be able to score a shot on the spot. To learn more about the guidelines at your local pharmacy or to make an appointment, follow the links below:
CVSRite-AidGood Neighbor PharmacyWalgreensDuane ReadeHealth Mart Pharmacies
Grocery stores and other locations
Like pharmacies, many grocery stores are now acting as inoculation centers including Costco, Publix, Shop-Rite, Wegmans, and Winn-Dixie. However, vaccination availability and eligibility varies by state. Some grocery stores, for example, can only vaccinate teachers and other essential workers, while others can vaccinate anyone who meets the vaccination requirements. To learn more about the guidelines at your grocery store or to make an appointment, follow the links below:
CostcoPublixWinn-DixieH-E-BHy-VeeStop and ShopKrogerFred Meyer’sAcmeWegmansWalmartOscoAlbertsonsShop-RiteBrookshire’s
In most states, mass vaccination sites have also been established. These facilities tend to be available to everyone. Some even allow walk-ins. To learn more about these facilities, Google your state plus the key phrase “vaccination site” or “mass vaccination site.” Next up, do you have to wear a mask after you get the vaccine?
