How to Find a Covid-19 Vaccine Appointment in Your Area

Here is a list of health department websites for each state

Some health department sites are more helpful than others, offering telephone hotlines, statewide sign-up lists, and eligibility checkers that will tell you whether you can get a vaccine yet, if you answer a few questions about your age, gender, profession, and health conditions. Other states merely direct you to a list of vaccination providers to call yourself.

The White House announced that all adult Americans, regardless of age or preexisting health conditions, will be eligible to receive a vaccination by May 1, 2021. Almost all states are on track to meet or beat that obligation, with more than half meeting it by April 15.

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Check out VaccineFinder, built by Boston Children’s Hospital and the CDC, to locate available vaccines near you and follow its Twitter account for updates. Other places to check include:

• Doctor’s offices, hospitals, and urgent care centers
• A local community health center
• State and local health departments. Find yours on the CDC’s health department’s Vaccine Finder or this list of links. Vaccination sites run the gamut: They could be MLB and NFL stadiums, mobile clinics, convention centers, or cities’ public health clinics.
• CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Albertsons, and other pharmacies, retail stores, and grocers may offer vaccinations via their own websites and processes. Texas-based H-E-B will also receive more doses. Target (in partnership with CVS), Winn-Dixie, and Hy-Vee are also on the list to begin offering vaccinations.

Many vaccination sites work by appointment. If there are sites that will send you texts or emails when appointments are available, sign up for one or more of them.

A government-provided vaccination site, such as a community health center or public health department, may be a safer bet if you’re worried about surprise medical bills or don’t want to reveal your citizenship or immigration status. They tend to be free, too. In our research for this article, we found that many of them state on their websites that they don’t ask for health insurance information or immigration status. Check with your local facilities to make sure.

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Vaccines are typically covered by your health insurance, but it pays to check with your insurance provider and the office before you commit to an appointment. Surprise bills are a problem in this country. If your profession is what grants you eligibility, bring proof of employment, such as a work ID, letter of employment, or pay stub. If you’re eligible because of underlying health conditions, you may need proof of your medical condition, such as a letter from your doctor.

Private practices and retail locations, such as pharmacies, usually require you to bring an ID and health insurance card and may ask for the name of your primary care physician. Vaccination sites run by government services, such as at community health centers and public health departments, don’t typically ask for health insurance info, but you’ll likely need proof of state residency. Depending on your state, school records, samples of mail addressed to you, or a statement from another person may substitute for a government-issued ID. Check with the specific vaccination site you’ve decided upon.