How to Sign Up for Your COVID-19 Vaccine Now

Zee Krstic
·18 min read
7
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

  • COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will likely expand to all U.S. adults in every state by April 19.

  • While federal officials have paused distribution of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, clinics are still actively administering a series of shots made by Pfizer and Moderna teams.

  • Some states prioritize certain demographics over others at state-run public vaccination clinics, but pharmacies, as well as private hospitals and healthcare providers, could be a quicker solution for most.

  • Below, we're recapping some strategies for snagging a vaccine appointment in cities and regions where demand is high.

By April 19, all U.S. adults aged 16 and older should be eligible to make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in every single state across the nation. Current federal initiatives are pushing for more than 200 million doses to be administered to Americans by April 30, per the Wall Street Journal. Despite officers at the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventi0n deciding to temporarily pull back the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, President Biden and other White House officials have told the press that vaccine availability won't be impacted on a national scale. Two vaccines, made by teams at Pfizer and Moderna, are still being distributed to millions of Americans — more than 75 million people have been fully vaccinated, per a daily count published by NPR, and almost double that have received at least a first dose.

CDC officials have cleared the use of Pfizer vaccines in those over the age of 16, and all others vaccines in those over the age of 18. It's important to note that in most states, 16 and 17-year-old patients will need guardians to sign a release form and accompany them to their appointments.

Throughout the winter, each state's health department drafted its populations into tiered priority groups based on federal recommendations. While eligibility may have expanded to all adults within any given state, it doesn't automatically mean clinics will no longer provide priority to those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms over others. If you're wondering when children may be eligible for the vaccine, expect those between the ages of 12 and 15 to be considered closer to the start of the fall season. Younger kids, toddlers, and babies will likely not be eligible for vaccines until 2022.

Because of each state's different prioritization scheme, some of the vaccine providers in your area may be selective in who they are vaccinating, and you'll need to check prerequisites for any given clinic before requesting an appointment. Many state health departments have compiled a master list of vaccine providers in your state; checking this list to find a clinic or a location that is entirely public should be a starting point.

The information below has been partly sourced from local state health departments, CDC resources available to residents, and information directed at senior citizens compiled by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). The information below is current as of April 14. We'll update this guide with new information periodically, but due to the emerging nature of vaccine rollouts across the country, some of the information in this guide may be out of date.

Finding an available appointment is often easier said than done, as demand in bigger cities can surpass how many appointments are available on any given day. In creating this state-by-state guide, Good Housekeeping editors have learned firsthand how some have used public reservation systems to their advantage to snag hard-to-get appointments. If you're struggling to locate an available vaccine appointment in your state, keep the following tips and tricks in mind:

  • Same-day cancellations are often available for state-run clinics. In many states, appointments were offered weeks to months in advance — which means many people often cancel their forgotten appointments on the day they're due to visit a clinic. Periodically checking a state-run clinic's registration portal throughout the day may result in you finding a last-minute reservation. Being flexible, whether by running to a last-minute appointment or simply being willing to travel to nearby zipcodes, may make getting a vaccine much easier.

  • Check availability with pharmacies and other retail locations. Pharmacies have increased access to vaccine availability compared to early 2021. Places like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid are great places to start, but if they're booked up, start thinking of retailers that you may not usually get pharmacy services from. Retailers like Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, and plenty of supermarkets from Kroger to Wegmans and Publix to Albertsons all operate pharmacies in their stores. You may be able to secure a vaccine while on your next shopping trip if you check for appointments here.

  • Add yourself to waitlists. In rural areas, some healthcare providers may be running public clinics that do not work on self-reservation systems, meaning they'll contact you directly when appointments are available. If this is the case, it's crucial to add your contact information to their waitlist — this will not impact your eligibility at other clinics, pharmacies, or your own doctor's office. You can put your name on more than one waitlist, and simply indicate that you've already been vaccinated at a later date if you're able to secure an appointment elsewhere.

  • Familiarize yourself with reservation systems. This varies greatly from state to state, but there may be small hacks in terms of manipulating a digital appointment system online. For example, Walmart's vaccine appointment system is set up to allow shoppers to make appointments up to a week in advance — around midnight ET, the system automatically adds a whole new day of availability to its online registration portal. The same is true for Sam's Club appointments. Use timeframes like these to your advantage and try to nab new appointments as soon as you can. Even if you're placed in a digital line, so to speak, logging on when new appointments are added to the system will increase your chances of landing an appointment.

  • Finally, speak with your direct healthcare provider. While their supply is limited, your local doctor's office may have a vaccine for you! Many people don't ever consider giving their primary doctor a call before taking their chances with public clinics or other vaccination locations in their state.

Below, we're rounding up where you may be able to get clear information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine. We'll continue to update this directory with more information as it becomes available.

Click on your state to be redirected to the most up-to-date information: AK | AL | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VA | VT
WA | WV | WI | WY

Alabama

  • Register here, and learn more about the state's vaccine efforts here.

  • Hotline: 855-566-5333

  • Who's eligible: As of April 5, anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to receive a vaccine. The hotline won't be able to help you by booking appointments but may direct you to the nearest vaccination site with availability.

Alaska

Arkansas

Arizona

  • Register here, and find a full map of Arizona's vaccine providers here.

  • Hotline: 602-542-1000

  • Who's eligible: State vaccination plans are executed by county, which all have approved eligibility for those 16 years old and above.

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

  • Read officials' rollout plan and see the state's timeline here, and locate a nearby vaccination site here, where you'll make appointments through each clinic individually. Georgia doesn't currently have a state-sponsored appointment booking tool.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Hawaii

  • Learn how state officials are working to vaccinate residents across the islands, and complete a registration form here.

  • Hotline: 800-300-1120

  • Who's eligible: Hawaii's local health departments are in charge of determining eligibility; every island, save for O'ahu, is vaccinating individuals over the age of 16. You'll register with your local health department to secure an appointment using the link above.

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

  • Locate a vaccine clinic or provider here, and the tool will direct you to the correct site to make an appointment.

  • Hotline: Call 211 within state lines.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Kansas

Kentucky

  • Find a local vaccinator here, where you'll be able to make appointments directly with the provider.

  • Hotline: 855-598-2246

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Louisiana

Maine

  • See the state's full list of vaccine sites, including public clinics that maintain online reservation systems, such as Northern Light Health. You can see the state's vaccine tracker here, which displays timeline progress in real-time.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Maryland

  • See Maryland's vaccine information here, and find a vaccine clinic here, where you'll make an appointment when approved.

  • Hotline: You can text 'MDReady' to 898-211 for more information about one of the state's five public clinics.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

  • View a full list of vaccine sites where you'll be able to make an appointment. This survey may alert you to when it's time for you to receive a vaccine.

  • Hotline: 800-401-0946

  • Who's eligible: Distribution is handled by county in Nevada, but anyone over the age of 16 may sign up for an appointment now.

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

  • Those living in New York state may book a vaccine appointment using this link, and those living in New York City specifically may view a full list of providers by zip code here.

  • Hotline: 833-687-4829

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16 who lives, works, or studies in New York state currently. The state doesn't maintain a list of third-party vaccine providers, like pharmacies, so be sure to check availability with a local pharmacy as well.

North Carolina

  • See the state's full list of providers here and make an appointment using the same portal.

  • Hotline: 877-490-6642

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

North Dakota

  • North Dakotans can locate vaccines in their area by using the CDC's Vaccine Finder tool here. There are no state-sponsored vaccine clinics or sites.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

  • Make an appointment for a vaccine by using a form feature right here. You may be able to secure a vaccine faster by contacting your local county health board, all listed here.

  • Who's eligible: Beginning April 19th, anyone over the age of 16 may make an appointment for a vaccine. Currently, those with pre-existing conditions and individuals over the age of 65 (as well as certain professions) are being encouraged to make appointments now.

Pennsylvania

  • Check to see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine here and see a full list of state-sponsored vaccine distributors here.

  • Hotline: 877-724-3258

  • Who's eligible: Starting April 19th, all residents over the age of 16 should begin to make appointments. Currently, essential workers, those 65 and over, as well as those with pre-existing conditions, are eligible for vaccine appointments.

Rhode Island:

  • Make an appointment at a state-run vaccine site here; you can be alerted about new eligibility rules here.

  • Who's eligible: Starting April 19, anyone over the age of 16 living, working, or studying in Rhode Island should be eligible for vaccination. Currently, the state is offering appointments to those over the age of 40, those in certain roles, and those with underlying medical conditions.

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Since Tennessee's vaccine efforts lie at the county level, click here for a county-by-county vaccine locator.

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

  • Residents and students may pre-register for a vaccine appointment here. Those who maintain residences in Virginia and Maryland are being directed to seek vaccines in those states.

  • Beginning April 19, anyone over the age of 16 may seek a vaccine appointment.

West Virginia

  • All residents above the age of 16 can pre-register for a spot in line for a COVID-19 vaccine and will be prompted to register when availability occurs.

  • Hotline: 833-734-0965

  • Who's eligible: While those over the age of 16 may seek an appointment at this time, the state continues to prioritize those over the age of 65 with special clinic appointments.

Wisconsin

Wyoming

  • Click here for a full directory of county health boards, which are all offering pre-registration for Wyoming residents via individual surveys.

  • Hotline: 800-438-5795

  • Who's eligible: Anyone over the age of 16.

You Might Also Like