Question: Is there an easy way to find local vaccine availability and sign up for an appointment?

Answer: The federal government did not create a centralized site for vaccine sign-up.  As a result, states, localities, hospital systems, pharmacy chains, and more have developed their own vaccination sign-up systems.  It’s a patchwork approach that puts the onus on individuals to navigate, oftentimes by signing up through multiple different systems that do not communicate with one another.  Yes, it’s confusing and burdensome.  As Claire Hannan, who runs the Association of Immunization Managers recently described to NPR,  “I can’t tell you how complicated it is to have a federally financed vaccine being distributed through a state-based system, with a health care system that’s private-sector based. These three things are completely separate and operate in their own kingdoms. So, trying to marry all of this and to track it in real time with data connections? It’s incredible that we are where we are.”  Recognizing the complications, here are a few tools to help navigate the process:

1. NPR’s Tool can direct you to relevant links for your state, including links to local information on who is currently eligible, central state registration site (if available), local providers, and local resources.
2. VaccineFinder.org allows people to enter their zip code and the distance they are willing to travel to show vaccine availability by location with relevant links to sign up.  The NY Times published an informative article yesterday about the effort, Helping People Find Covid-19 Vaccines Is Aim of C.D.C.-Backed Site.
3. CDC’s Pharmacy Providers List provides a state-by-state description of which pharmacies and retail chains are participating in the federal vaccine program. You can use this list to know which retail pharmacies you can register with in your locale.