Where Will I Be Able to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.