With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines running less smoothly in some areas than in others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stepping in to try to simplify the process.
The CDC has thrown its weight behind VaccineFinder.org, a website run by Boston Children’s Hospital. As of Wednesday, it monitored the availability of COVID vaccines at over 20,000 locations. And it’s looking to expand to nearly all of the nation’s providers in the coming weeks.
Right now, VaccineFinder has its heaviest concentration of data in Alaska, Tennessee, Indiana, and Iowa. Other states have less complete information, but do list some providers—and give information on whether they have the vaccine in stock at present.
VaccineFinder was launched in 2009 to help people find flu shots and places to get childhood vaccinations. It gathers availability information directly from health care providers, who generally report inventory levels every 24 hours.
Finding a place that has the coronavirus vaccine doesn’t mean you’re eligible to get a shot, however. State regulations about availability still apply—and you can’t sign up to get a shot directly on the VaccineFinder website, though it will offer a link for you to sign up. There’s also no wait list for people who are not eligible in their state’s current round but should be able to get a shot soon.
Vaccines are becoming a little easier to find as pharmaceutical companies increase their production. The Biden administration says some 14.5 million doses per week are being sent to states. That’s an increase of 70% since his inauguration.