NEWS Coronavirus News COVID-19 Vaccine Basics Guide COVID-19 Vaccine Basics Guide How to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Timeline Vaccination Sites Cost Safety Side Effects Where Will I Be Able to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine? By Korin Miller Updated on July 22, 2022 Fact checked by Marley Hall Share Tweet Email Print Joe Raedle / Getty Images Key Takeaways The COVID-19 vaccine is now available in a range of locations.Everyone 6 months and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.Each state has slightly different plans and regulations for where the vaccine can be administered.Many areas allow vaccines to be given at pharmacies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and even dentist’s offices. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are being administered across the country, including at medical centers and retail pharmacies. The newly authorized vaccine from Novavax is expected to be available in the coming weeks. On August 23, 2021, the FDA gave full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals ages 16 and older. The vaccine, which is now marketed under the name Comirnaty, was the first COVID-19 vaccine to be granted FDA approval. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has also received emergency use authorization from the FDA for children and adolescents ages 6 months to 15 years. The FDA gave full approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals ages 18 and older on January 31, 2022. The vaccine is now marketed under the name Spikevax. Moderna’s vaccine is also authorized for emergency use in individuals ages 6 months to 17 years. The Johnson & Johnson and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines have only been authorized for emergency use in adults 18 and older. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are approved for all adults in the U.S. who completed their initial vaccine series. Pfizer booster shots are also recommended for those aged 5 years and older who completed their initial Pfizer vaccination series at least five months prior. Second booster doses are now available for people 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise and all people age 50+ who have received an initial mRNA booster dose at least four months ago. Adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine at least four months ago can now receive a second booster using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone 6 months of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.When the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine was limited, the CDC’s vaccine rollout recommendations put healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities in the first priority group (1a) followed by groups that include essential workers, adults 65 and older, and individuals 16 to 64 with underlying conditions that put them at high risk of severe COVID-19 (groups 1b and 1c). Where Is the Vaccine Available? Vaccines are now widely available. Exactly where the vaccine is available in your area largely depends on where you live—as each state and territory has its own operational playbook that dictates where the vaccine will be offered. While there is variation from area to area, there are some common threads. In general, the COVID-19 vaccine should be available near you in the following locations. How Will the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Distributed? Your Local Hospital This is where many vaccinations are taking place. Many major medical centers have the capacity to efficiently store the Pfizer vaccine, which requires very cold temperatures, infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Verywell. “That’s important,” he says. As distribution increases for the three authorized vaccines, you may be able to walk into your local hospital to get vaccinated without an appointment during certain days, similar to how your local medical center handles flu vaccinations. COVID-19 Vaccines: Stay up to date on which vaccines are available, who can get them, and how safe they are. Your Local Pharmacy or Grocery Store The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has formed partnerships with large chain pharmacies and networks that represent independent pharmacies and regional chains to provide access to the vaccine anywhere pharmacists work. “Pharmacy vaccinators are crucial public health partners for increasing access and convenience of COVID-19 vaccines,” the HHS said in a press release, noting that “many pharmacists and the interns and technicians working under their supervision are trained to provide immunizations and are already important immunizers in their communities.” There are now more than 20 retail pharmacies participating in a federal program to increase COVID-19 access across the United States, with options varying by state. COVID-19 Vaccines Will be Available at Your Local Pharmacy Your Primary Care Physician’s Office The American Medical Association (AMA) says that physicians will play a key role in administering the vaccine. The AMA urged physicians to have a communication plan in place to encourage patients to get vaccinated and to remind them when their second dose of the vaccine is needed. They should also have supplies ready, like personal protective equipment, needles, syringes, alcohol prep pads, and vaccination cards to accompany the vaccines delivered to vaccination sites. An Urgent Care Center or Walk-In Clinic Vaccines are being offered in clinics in the U.S. just as they were in the U.K., which approved the Pfizer vaccine before the U.S. “After an initial rollout to hospitals, the vaccine became available at local clinics,” Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, tells Verywell. Your Dentist It seems unusual, but several states are allowing dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. “We have a need for vaccinators,” Adalja says. “It is important to bring in people who have medical training in this, including dentists—they administer injections all the time.” Halkitis says using dentists to administer vaccines is a “particularly smart idea,” adding that it may even create less anxiety for people who don’t feel comfortable going to a hospital, pharmacy, or their primary care physician to get vaccinated. Overall, experts say vaccination is what ultimately matters. “It doesn’t really matter where people get their services, as long as they get their vaccination,” Halkitis says. What This Means For You Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available, you have a range of options for where to get vaccinated. Check in with your local health department or call your doctor if you’re unsure of where to go. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. 8 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in adolescents in another important action in fight against pandemic. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA takes key action by approving second COVID-19 vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC strengthens recommendations and expands eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC recommends additional boosters for certain individuals. American Medical Association. What doctors can do now to be ready when COVID-19 vaccines arrive. American Dental Association. COVID-19 vaccine regulations for dentists map. By Korin Miller Korin Miller is a health and lifestyle journalist who has been published in The Washington Post, Prevention, SELF, Women's Health, The Bump, and Yahoo, among other outlets. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit