Help Is Out There: Online Resources to Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment

Even as vaccine restrictions loosen and supplies ramp up around the country, appointments for a vaccination remain difficult to get, and many older Americans still need help to schedule one. A good place to start is with a vaccine-locating website such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) VaccineFinder.org.

State and county government websites, national and local pharmacy websites, and aggregating websites such as VaccineFinder are also designed to help those who want the shot find available vaccines in their area.

The CDC's VaccineFinder, run by Boston Children's Hospital, has provided access to flu and other routine vaccinations since 2009. In February, VaccineFinder expanded its services to include available COVID-19 vaccine appointments and suspended direction to other vaccines.

When it expanded in February, VaccineFinder made access available to 20,000 providers across the U.S. offering COVID-19 vaccines. In late March, VaccineFinder increased its access to more than 30,000 providers, says Liz Su, a product manager.

"Covering every state, national pharmacies are available on our website, such as CVS, Walgreens, Kroger. But also local providers such as mom-and-pop shops, regional chains and small pharmacies,” says Su. “They are all able to enroll onto VaccineFinder in order to list their location as open to providing vaccines to the public."

VaccineFinder points people to the right places — redirecting them to a provider's website to look for appointment times — though it doesn't schedule the appointments. With more than half of the states now dropping the age of vaccine eligibility to as young as 16, the demand for appointments is likely to increase dramatically, and thus the demand for vaccine-finding websites.

Volunteers help connect people with shots

In response to increased demand and scheduling frustrations, groups of volunteers across the U.S. are dedicating their time to helping people set up appointments.

One in Illinois, Chicago Vaccine Angels (CVA), includes about 50 volunteers who help people schedule appointments in the city and across the state. As of April 1, the group had booked a total of 3,200 appointments for people, says Brianna Wolin, a volunteer administrator with CVA.

"Our primary concern has been and remains with people in tiers 1A and 1B,” says Wolin. “That is frontline health care workers, people who are 65 years plus, and essential workers in different industries that have kept our world turning."

As age restrictions for the vaccine are lowered, Wolin says, CVA has seen an increase in requests for booking appointments. Still, the demand isn't nearly as high as when the state allowed only individuals who are 65 years or older to get vaccinated.