New Tool Finds Vaccine Locations and Appointments
The Baker-Polito Administration has launched a new tool to help residents more easily find COVID-19 vaccination locations available to all residents and view appointment availability for some sites. The tool, called the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, enables residents to search for a vaccination location and view appointment availability before scheduling. The tool can be accessed via the state’s vaccination website at www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine or directly at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov.
According to a press release from the states Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the new tool enables users to search for locations near them by entering their ZIP code, city/town name, or the name of a vaccination location. It also allows residents to filter results by site type, such as mass vaccination locations, locations run by local health departments, retail pharmacies or health care locations.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Finder displays all vaccination locations open to all residents across the Commonwealth, but only includes appointment availability details for mass vaccination locations and some sites operated by local health departments at this time. Visibility for additional sites will be built up over time.
Once a user selects a vaccination location, residents can view:
- Available appointments (currently select sites only)
- Vaccines offered (Pfizer/Moderna)
- Directions via Google Maps and MBTA Trip Planner information
- Specific site instructions and whether the site is indoors or outdoors
- Disability access information
The tool updates appointment availability every 5 minutes for participating vaccination locations. In the coming weeks, availability for additional locations will be added. Appointment availability is based on supply from the federal government and remains limited. The tool is available in a wide range of languages. The COVID-19 Vaccine Finder was built as part of an ongoing partnership between Project Beacon and the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Response Command Center.
Massachusetts will continue to add vaccine appointments and locations as the distribution process continues, and the Administration will continue to make improvements to the process that make it easier for residents to find and schedule an appointment.
Residents can use www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine to check if they are eligible, find and schedule an appointment and prepare for their appointment. Residents 75 and older who do not have internet or cannot use the website can call 2-1-1 to access the Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line, to schedule an appointment over the phone.
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.