Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine
Covid19 vaccine
Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine:
The US has administered nearly 4.8 million coronavirus vaccines since they were approved in December. When it’s time to get your shot, it’s important to know where to go.
Katie Conner
COVID-19 vaccines will be available at Walgreen’s, CVS, and other health facilities.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Since December, the US has vaccinated roughly 4.73 million people, falling short of the original 20 million goal planned for the end of 2020 due to delays. However, if you’re one of the first out of hundreds of millions of Americans waiting to get the COVID-19 vaccine, you’ll need to know where to get your shot. The Food and Drug Administration now authorizes both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. And just like the number of available doses, where you can go to get vaccinated will likely be limited at first.
A good place to start would be to call your health insurance provider for the best options to make sure you’re fully covered, as some venues could charge an administration fee. Also, note that smaller hospitals may receive a smaller number of COVID-19 vaccines at this time, with larger health facilities that have the most coronavirus patients expected to get a larger majority to start.
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According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, each state will need to approve hundreds of thousands of proposed vaccine distribution sites.
Here’s where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn.
Read also: What is a COVID-19 vaccination card, and how will you use it?
Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Now that the vaccine against the coronavirus is ready, you may have your choice of providers when you receive your inoculation. All of that will depend on which vaccine brand or type is available near where you live. You may have fewer choices if you’re in one of the first groups to receive the immunization. More options may be ready by the time there are enough vaccine doses for people in later groups.
Read more: COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even with long-term data lacking
Again, the facilities that can offer the vaccine will need to get their protocols up and running, gain approval to distribute the vaccination officially, and receive enough doses to treat the local population. Here’s a running list of places that will be offering the COVID-19 vaccine.
Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid, and other select pharmacies
Walmart
Kroger
Hospitals
Clinics
Doctors’ offices
Health departments
Assisted living facilities
Likely at first: Schools and community centers
For more information on the coronavirus vaccine, here are the hidden costs, when and where you’ll get it, and how many doses you need. Also, here’s who will get the COVID-19 vaccine first and all the different COVID-19 vaccines that people could get.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine gets approval for emergency use in the UK
The vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca will begin to be administered next week.
The first Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination will apparently happen next Monday.
Sarah Tew/CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
The Oxford University and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency supply in the UK, the country’s government said Wednesday. This follows the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines winning approval last month.
Like the other two, the Oxford vaccine will require two doses. In this case, the second shot should be administered between four and 12 weeks after the first.
The first person will get the Oxford vaccine on Jan. 4, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC, and the UK ordered enough to vaccinate the country’s entire adult population.
“This is a moment to celebrate British innovation — not only are we responsible for discovering the first treatment to reduce mortality for COVID-19 but this vaccine will also be made available to some of the poorest regions of the world at a low cost, helping protect countless people from this awful disease,” Hancock said in a statement.
Read more: COVID-19 vaccine facts: Hidden costs, when you can get vaccinated.
Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be kept in ultracold temperatures, the Oxford vaccine can be stored in “normal refrigerated conditions,” AstraZeneca said. (The Moderna vaccine can also be refrigerated.)
The approval comes after a “highly contagious” new coronavirus strain was detected in the UK last month, sending the country into a strict lockdown over the holiday season. This first US case of this new variant was discovered Tuesday in Colorado.
The European Medicines Agency won’t assess the Oxford vaccine until January at the earliest because it hasn’t received an application from AstraZeneca, while US regulators are waiting for a late-stage trial to end, according to the Financial Times.
“EMA is currently assessing data on this vaccine as part of a rolling review, which started on Oct. 1, 2020,” an EMA spokesperson said in a statement emailed to CNET. “EMA’s human medicines committee has assessed data from laboratory studies (nonclinical data) and is currently assessing data on the vaccine’s quality (on its ingredients and the way it is manufactured) as well as evidence on its efficacy and safety. Coming from several ongoing clinical trials.”
The US Food and Drug Administration declined to comment on the Oxford vaccine specifically. Still, a spokesperson noted via email that it’s “committed to providing the same expeditious, thorough and transparent review” process is applied to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to any future Emergency Use Authorization requests.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine gets approval for emergency use in the UK
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Not everyone will get the same COVID-19 vaccine. What to know
Which vaccine you get — and when you get it — might depend on factors such as your age, your health, and possibly even where you live.
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
The first wave of coronavirus vaccinations is finally underway, and with it comes a heap of questions. Are there different kinds of coronavirus vaccines, and when might you get one? Before vaccines started being administered, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prioritized which groups should get the very first available doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (the agency continues to update its guidance). However, states aren’t required to follow the CDC’s lead, and some have already started bucking the federal agency’s guidelines in favor of their own priority lists.
Regardless of who’s first in line for a coronavirus vaccine, more are on the way, and with them, more questions. Who will get those other vaccines, and how soon can you expect to be protected against COVID-19?
With more than a dozen COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in late-stage clinical trials and dozens more not too far behind, it’s now evident that not everyone in the world will get the same vaccine. Not only are there different manufacturers — AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Norovax, and so on — but each vaccine is delivered and works a little differently from the others. Most COVID-19 vaccines come in the form of a shot, but some are patches, and others you can swallow as pills. The vast majority require at least two doses, but a few are expected to provide effective immunity after just one.
That means some vaccines may be reserved for certain groups instead of others based on how the drugs act in the body or how they’re delivered. For example, some single-dose vaccines might better serve low population density rural communities. In contrast, city dwellers and suburbanites who live closer to more health care providers may get vaccines that require subsequent “booster” doses.
The vast majority of coronavirus vaccines are still under development, and the science continues to evolve, so nothing is set in stone just yet. Here, we paint in broad strokes a picture of what the coming vaccine landscape may look like. We’ll continue to update this story as new information comes to light. This article is intended to be a general overview and not a source of medical advice.
Not all COVID-19 vaccines will need to be injected — some can be delivered without a needle.
Pfizer and Moderna are available now.
What they are: Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines are mRNA, or “genetic,” vaccines, an entirely new class of drugs that are unstable at room temperature and must be kept frozen until right before they’re dispensed.
When they’re coming: Both have been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration and are currently being administered to priority individuals like health care workers and nursing home residents and staff.
Who they might be best for: So far, nursing home staff and residents and front-line health care workers.
Refrigeration: Pfizer’s vaccine requires long-term storage colder than Antarctica: minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. It can then be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures of 35 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to five days. Moderna needs temperatures that a commercial deep freezer could probably handle for long-term storage: minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. It keeps at typical refrigerator temperatures (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30 days.
Dosing: Both vaccines require an initial injection followed by a booster shot several weeks later.
The first vaccines are being dispensed to priority groups, like front-line health care workers and older adults.
Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine could be next
What it is: Once the frontrunner in the race for a coronavirus vaccine, the candidate developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has run into a few snags along the way which have delayed its application for authorization.
When it’s coming: The UK approved the vaccine just days before the start of 2021, but the FDA won’t approve it in the US until clinical trials wrap up here, possibly as soon as February or March.
Refrigeration: A standard refrigerator could handle it: 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dosing: Two doses, originally intended to be spaced one month apart. Referring to unpublished results of the trial, however, regulators in the UK have authorized a three-month gap between doses, saying the data supports that window as the more effective time scale.
Novavax shows promise and an advantage.
What it is: The Novavax coronavirus vaccine is in late-stage clinical trials. Though it isn’t on the road to approval yet, this vaccine promises high efficacy and stability in regular refrigeration versus deep freeze conditions. That could make it more practical for wider distribution.
When it’s coming: Likely sometime in the first half of 2021.
Refrigeration: Standard refrigeration needs at 39 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dosing: Two doses spaced three weeks apart, plus an adjuvant, a second drug that helps the vaccine work better.
With several different coronavirus vaccines likely to be authorized in 2021, the next challenge will be figuring out which one’s best for you.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Needle-free vaccine delivery from Inovio
What it is: Instead of a syringe and needle, Inovio’s unique system uses an electrical pulse to deliver the vaccine into the body, where it can trigger an immune response.
When it’s coming: Inovio just began midstage clinical trials in December, so a summer 2021 release might be a realistic expectation if all goes well with the studies.
It might be best for: Children and adults with an intense fear of needles; people in developing areas where safe needle disposal is a challenge.
Refrigeration: Can be kept at room temperature.
Dosing: Two doses, delivered with a patch, four weeks apart.
There’s no guarantee that the FDA will clear any of the as-yet unauthorized vaccines listed above for emergency use, nor do any of the timelines consider the potential for future snags or delays. We’ll update this article as new information surfaces and continue to add more vaccines to this list as it becomes clearer when other manufacturers might apply for authorization and which groups are likely to receive them.
For more information about how vaccines are developed and distributed, as well as the latest in vaccine news, read our coronavirus vaccine explainer. If you have specific questions about a COVID-19 vaccine, we may have already answered them here. Wondering when you can get one? We’re tracking coronavirus vaccine priority groups here.
Here’s why you should wear a mask even after getting COVID-19 or the vaccine
Getting a vaccine doesn’t exempt you from mask-wearing and social distancing right now.
It’s best to wear a mask, even after you get vaccinated.
Sarah Tew/CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
This month, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for emergency use in the US. Since Dec. 14, the COVID-19 vaccine doses have started being administered throughout the states. If you think that after you receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, you won’t have to worry about wearing a mask or social distancing, think again.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s important to continue following the protection guidelines in place. At the same time, experts learn more about the protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide, the possibility of vaccinated people continuing to spread the disease, and more about immunity and reinfection if someone has recovered from COVID-19.
Here’s what health experts and the CDC have to say about why you need to continue wearing a mask and social distancing after you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Read more: COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even without long-term data
Watch this: Will a COVID-19 vaccine be a triumph of science or soul-searching?
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The COVID-19 vaccine may not give you full protection right away
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines come in two doses — the first shot starts building protection. In contrast, the second shot is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer against the coronavirus, according to the CDC.
The first shot has been proven to be highly effective, Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief quality and patient safety officer of Wexner Medical Center, told CNET. He said the second dose amplifies the protection and will extend the life of immunity.
After you receive the second shot, your body needs time to build the protection needed to fight the virus. According to the CDC, it could take up to two weeks for your COVID-19 vaccine to begin protecting you against the coronavirus. During that time, it’s important to keep yourself and those around you safe by continuing to socially distance and wear a mask when around people outside your household.
You may not get full protection from the coronavirus right away.
Sarah Tew/CNET
You could still spread COVID-19, even after getting vaccinated
Because the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine are both so new, there’s not enough evidence at this point to know if people can still carry the coronavirus pathogens and pass them along to others without being infected themselves.
“This gives enough time for the virus to grow in the respiratory passages and spread the infection to others, all while the body is fighting its own infection, aided by the vaccine,” Gonsenhauser told CNET.
A lack of data shows whether or not a vaccinated individual can spread the virus after becoming infected, and a person could potentially be an asymptomatic carrier, he added.
“While the vaccine is highly effective, there’s still a slim chance — 5 to 10% — that after someone gets vaccinated, they could become infected,” Gunzenhauser said. However, more data could become available as scientists and doctors learn more about the effects of the vaccine on COVID-19.
Read more: COVID-19 reinfection: Can you get the coronavirus more than once? What we know so far
Until experts fully understand the protection a COVID-19 vaccine provides, it’s important to continue wearing a mask, and following social distancing protocols, the CDC says. This can help prevent the coronavirus from spread among communities of people until more of the population is vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Wearing a mask is “adding on the protection of the vaccination,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said on Dec. 14 on a CBS radio affiliate. The CDC says that together, wearing a face mask and getting vaccinated will offer the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.
There are still unknowns about reinfection and ‘natural’ immunity
“The immune response, including duration of immunity, to COVID-19, is not yet understood,” the CDC says.
More research is needed to determine how likely you are to get reinfected, and the CDC says, “it’s not known what antibody levels are needed to protect against reinfection.”
The defenses the body gains against the virus during and after infection seem to fade relatively quickly, making it difficult to achieve herd immunity over a longer period of time, according to Dr. William Haseltine, a former professor of Harvard Medical School who is renowned for his work on the human genome and HIV/AIDS.
“The bigger concern is someone becoming reinfected with the same variant of COVID-19, not getting sick themselves, but still being contagious to others. You can get infected twice and be asymptomatic the second time around, and still carry it and transmit it to other more vulnerable people around you,” said John V. Williams, professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh.
So far, there have been very few cases of reinfection of the coronavirus. In fact, reported cases of reinfection with COVID-19 remain rare, according to the CDC. However, if COVID-19 is like other types of coronaviruses, such as the common cold, reinfection will become more prevalent as time goes on, according to Scientific American.
Reinfection of COVID-19 is a possibility.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Unvaccinated people might think it’s okay to stop wearing a mask
It will take months or longer for enough of the population to be vaccinated to start seeing case numbers go down substantially. Therefore, it’s important to continue wearing masks whenever you’re around people outside your household.
“If after getting vaccinated, people stop wearing their masks, other people who haven’t been vaccinated could start thinking masks aren’t necessary anymore,” Gonsenhauser said of social behavior. If those unvaccinated people have the virus, they can spread it faster by not wearing a mask.
Read more: the COVID-19 vaccine card is not an immunity passport. Here’s the difference
According to a Vox survey first published in November, people in smaller groups are less likely to wear masks when together. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they don’t wear a mask when attending a sit-down gathering.
“Masks are a key measure to suppress transmission and save lives,” the World Health Organization says. According to a Nature Medicine study from October, if 95% of the public wears a mask, tens of thousands of lives could be saved.
If many Americans refuse the vaccine, wearing a mask can help you protect yourself.
Despite the COVID-19 vaccines being proven safe, some Americans may avoid vaccination. Incorrect coronavirus vaccine myths and other misinformation have falsely claimed that the vaccine will include government-tracking microchips or be forcefully administered by the military. This is not true.
Some may be wrongly concerned that the vaccine was developed too quickly to be safe. Both vaccines in the US have undergone extensive clinical trials and have been proven to be 94% and 95% effective, well over the 90% efficacy threshold required.
While a vaccine won’t completely stop the pandemic in its tracks, it’s the direct route to herd immunity. However, to get there, more people will need to get the coronavirus vaccine. And, due to a limited number of doses, not everyone can
get the coronavirus vaccine all at once. In fact, depending on which group you’re in, you may be waiting until at least April to get the vaccine, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert — if not later.
If a significant portion of the population refuses to take the vaccine, we will likely not see numbers of new cases decrease as rapidly as we’d like, says Gonsenhauser. He says he and other medical providers are doing everything they can to remind people how safe the vaccine is — from bringing relatable and accessible information to communities who have different oppositions to distrust the vaccine to help them make better-informed decisions.
Some people may think it’s okay not to wear a mask after getting COVID-19.
Sarah Tew/CNET
How much longer will I have to wear a mask and social distance? What needs to happen?
Currently, there’s not enough information this time to determine if or when most of the population can safely stop wearing masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC says. Still, it will likely come down to the numbers.
When there are enough observable changes, such as cases dropping and the threat levels of community, spread sharply falling. When that happens, medical experts can redetermine the need for mask-wearing. However, it could be well into 2021 before that happens.
“We would need to see a dramatic decrease in the number of new cases per 100,000 of the population after enough vaccines have been administered,” Gunzenhauser said.
For more information, here are the COVID-19 vaccine side effects and what we know so far, and hidden medical charges you could encounter after getting the vaccine. Also, here’s where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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Coronavirus vaccine facts: Hidden costs, when you’ll get vaccinated, more
With two vaccines being administered in the US, where do you stand in line? Will you have to pay for anything? What can you do after you’re vaccinated? Here’s what you need to know.
Sarah Tew/CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
Last month, many of those who received their first COVID-19 vaccine are gearing up to get their second shot — including President-elect Joe Biden. The US currently has two approved COVID-19 vaccines — Moderna and Pfizer — being administered across the country. And while the pace of vaccinations didn’t go as planned, Biden says he will release more doses as soon as he’s in office.
As you wait for your turn, there are a lot of questions we can help answer. Is a vaccination completely free, or will you have to pay? How long will you personally have to wait to receive it, when you know when you can get it and where, and is there anyone who shouldn’t get a COVID-19 vaccine right now?
There’s plenty we don’t know yet, but we’re keeping a close eye on the situation and will update this story as we learn more about the vaccine against COVID-19. Note that this story isn’t intended to serve as medical advice.
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