The U.S. rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, managed individually by states instead of by the federal government, has been largely uneven and confusing to many seeking the vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued recommendations for who should get the vaccines first, but states established their own criteria. Most prioritized health-care workers and long-term-care residents first; now, many have moved on to those over 65 or 75 years of age and people with health conditions that put them at high risk.
While states have set the priorities for inoculations, many have pushed the responsibility for administering them onto individual hospitals, clinics and local public health agencies.
Each state has divided their populations into groups or phases or tiers, and each is working through them at its own pace. Most states’ websites acknowledge the limited vaccine supply, and that many of the hotlines are likely to be experiencing difficulties. Residents are encouraged to keep trying and to check the websites regularly for updates. Some states give residents the option to pre-register for the vaccine even if they aren’t eligible yet, and will notify those people when it’s their turn to schedule an appointment.
The states also request residents don’t go to a clinic or provider without an appointment.
The information below is the current phase that each state and Washington, D.C., are in as of Jan. 25, and will be updated once a week.
Alabama
Website
Hotline: 1-855-566-5333
The state currently vaccinates health-care workers, long-term-care residents, as well as those in the 75-plus age group, law enforcement officers and firefighters. The call center will take your contact information and add it to a waiting list. Callers will be contacted as soon as more appointments are available. There is no option for residents to pre-register.
Alaska
Website
Hotline: 1-907-646-3322
The state currently vaccinates health-care workers, long-term-care residents and staff, and residents aged 65 and over. The state has an online appointment system, an eligibility quiz that provides a general timeline and a sortable table for many of the state’s vaccine providers.
Arizona
Website
Hotline: 602-542-1000
Arizona currently allocates its vaccine distribution through local and tribal health jurisdictions, and counties are using a prioritization phased approach. The site has a map that shows which phase each county is vaccinating. The state has an online appointment system for eligible residents, but there is no pre-registration for the vaccine.
Arkansas
Website
Hotline: n/a
The state has started its Phase 1B group, which includes Arkansans who are 70 and older and those who work in education eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccination. Additional groups under 1B will be announced as the supply increases. The 1A group includes health-care workers, residents and staff of long-term-care facilities and police, firefighters and EMS who work as first responders. The site offers a map of pharmacy locations; there is no pre-registration for the vaccine.
Health-care workers used wireless devices to register people with vaccine appointments in a parking lot in Pomona, Calif., on Jan. 22.
California
Website
Hotline: n/a
The state has broken down its initial rollout into three main groups and currently is working its way through the first two. The 1A includes health-care workers and long-term-care residents, accounting for roughly three million people. The 1B group has two tiers: The first is individuals aged 65 and older, and those who work in education and child care, emergency services and food and agriculture; the second group includes transportation and logistics workers, industrial, commercial, residential and sheltering facilities, and critical manufacturing, as well as those in vulnerable communities such as incarcerated and homeless. The 1C group includes the rest of the state’s population.
On Monday
Gov. Gavin Newsom
said the state will move to an age-based eligibility system once the state’s more vulnerable population is vaccinated.
Most eligible residents can receive a vaccine at community sites, doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies. The state allows residents to pre-register to be notified when it’s their turn. California expects to have enough supplies to vaccinate most Californians in all 58 counties by summer 2021, according to the website.
Colorado
Website
Hotline: 303-389-1687 or 877-462-2911
Colorado currently vaccinates health-care workers, residents aged 70 and over, and essential workers in education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, postal service, public transit, grocery, human services, state government, journalism and the homeless.
The majority of residents will receive the vaccine through their employer, local public health agency or the long-term-care program. Current vaccine providers for eligible residents to contact are listed. The state expects Phase 2 recipients to be eligible in the spring and Phase 3 recipients to be eligible in the summer. There is no pre-registration option.
Connecticut
Website
Hotline: 877-918-2224
Connecticut currently vaccinates health-care professionals, long-term-care residents and medical first responders. It is in the process of rolling out Phase 1B—scheduling residents aged 75 and older—and has plans to schedule individuals ages 65-74, frontline essential workers and those with underlying medical conditions. The state has an eligibility quiz, a way for employers to enroll staff and an online “Vaccine Administration Management System” for eligible residents, or they can contact certain health-care providers for direct scheduling.
Delaware
Website
Hotline: n/a
Delaware lays out a timeline for its four phases, which runs through June, and currently is in Phase 1B. Those eligible for the vaccine include: health-care personnel, emergency medical services, and long-term-care staff and residents, all individuals 65 and over, and frontline essential workers including: fire, police, correctional officers, teachers and education staff (including child care providers), postal, food manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and grocery store workers.
Frontline essential workers should get information from their employers; residents 65 and older can make a request for an appointment; there is no pre-registration option listed.
Florida
Website
Hotline: (866) 201-6313
Florida currently vaccinates long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older, health-care personnel with direct patient contact, and residents deemed to be extremely vulnerable to Covid-19. The state offers a list of county health departments and hospital providers, sortable by county and city. The state has started a pilot program of a telephone appointment system for eligible residents to reserve an appointment.
Georgia
Website
Hotline: n/a
Georgia currently vaccinates residents in group 1A+, which includes health-care workers, first responders, long-term-care facility residents and those over the age of 65. There’s a sortable table of vaccination sites for residents to book appointments directly, as they become available. The state advises residents to check its website often, as participating site locations will be updated frequently. Additional locations will be added when providers are ready to administer the shots, and as supply allows. There’s no pre-registration available.
Hawaii
Website
Hotline: (800) 300-1120
Hawaii distributes its vaccines to hubs throughout the state. Those currently eligible are: frontline essential workers including medical personnel, who are receiving vaccines through their employer or industry, and adults 75 years and older, who can register through this website. Organizations with frontline essential workers in Phase 1B may complete a survey to identify their eligible workers and coordinate vaccinations. Those in 1B include first responders, corrections officers, emergency services dispatchers, critical transportation infrastructure workers—such as harbor and dock workers, public transportation—critical utilities—such as energy, water—teachers and child-care and educational support staff, those essential for federal, state, local government operations, and postal service workers.
Hawaii also provides island county websites, which have updated information. The state expects that all adults will be able to get vaccinated in the first half of 2021 or soon thereafter. There isn’t pre-registration available.
Idaho
Website
Hotline: There are different hotlines depending on what part of the state you live in.
Idaho currently vaccinates Group 1, which includes health-care personnel, home-care providers, emergency medical services, long-term-care facility residents and staff, public health and emergency management response workers, and Group 2, which includes frontline essential workers such as first responders, law enforcement officers, teachers and child-care staff and correctional and detention facility staff, and adults aged 65 and older. The state recommends eligible residents contact their employer or local public health district to schedule an appointment.
As more residents become eligible, the state expects people to get them through normal vaccination locations such as your employer, physician’s office, local public health district, or local pharmacy. The state expects to move to Group 3 at the end of March/early April, and Group 4 in May. There is no pre-registration option.
Illinois
Website
Hotline: n/a
Illinois currently vaccinates eligible residents in Phase 1A—health-care personnel and long-term-care facility staff and residents—and has started 1B—persons aged 65 and older, inmates and frontline essential workers including first responders, corrections officers, food and agriculture workers, postal service employees, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, education workers, and adult day-care or homeless shelter workers.
The state is opening vaccination sites and hundreds of additional pharmacies will eventually provide the shots. Additionally, the Illinois National Guard is deploying teams to sites in Cook County and St. Clair County. The state recently launched an appointment sign-up option, which—when appointments are available—residents can access a link taking them to their local health care provider to coordinate when and where to receive the vaccine.
Indiana
Website
Hotline: 211 within the state
Any Indiana resident age 70 and older is eligible for the vaccine, as are long-term-care residents, first responders (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists and volunteers) and health-care workers who have in-person contact with patients or infectious material in any health-care setting. There is a list of vaccine sites broken down by county and you can click on your county and provider to schedule an appointment. The state doesn’t allow pre-registration.
Iowa
Website
Hotline: 211 within the state
Iowa currently vaccinates individuals in Phase 1A, which includes health-care providers and long-term-care residents. Phase 1B begins Feb. 1, with tier 1 including first responders and education and child-care workers. There are four other tiers outlined on the website, but no information about appointments or pre-registration.
Kansas
Website
Hotline: n/a
Kansas vaccinates eligible residents in Phase 1 (health-care workers, residents/patients in long-term care or senior housing, and workers critical to the pandemic response) and Phase 2 (persons aged 65 and older, high-contact critical workers). The state expects to vaccinate the majority of its population starting in late April to mid-May. There is no information about pre-registration or how to make an appointment.
Kentucky
Website
Hotline: n/a
Kentucky currently vaccinates residents in Phase 1A, anyone in long-term-care facilities, assisted living facilities and health-care personnel, and 1B, anyone aged 70 or older, first responders and K-12 personnel. It expects to start Phase 1C on Feb. 1, widening eligibility to anyone age 60 or older, anyone age 16 or older with highest-risk conditions, and all essential workers. There is no information about making an appointment or pre-registering for the vaccine.
Louisiana
Website
Hotline: n/a
The state currently vaccinates those age 70 and older, outpatient clinic providers, urgent care providers, community care providers, behavioral health providers, dialysis providers and patients, home-health service providers and recipients, dental providers, and students, residents and staff of allied health schools. Eligible patients must contact a vaccine location to make an appointment. Those not eligible can’t pre-register or make appointments.
Maine
Website
Hotline: n/a
Maine currently is in Phase 1A, which includes health-care personnel, residents and staff of long-term-care facilities, public safety personnel, and Covid-19 response personnel. It expects to begin Phase 1B in February, which will include older residents, all adults with high-risk medical conditions and some frontline essential workers. Other phases are expected to start in May and June. Those in 1A should contact their employers or professional associations, while residents age 70 and over can contact specific locations for an appointment. There’s no pre-registration but the website recommends residents check it in the future for updates about availability.
Maryland
Website
Hotline: n/a
Maryland vaccinates residents in Phase 1A and Phase 1B, which includes health-care workers, residents and staff of nursing homes, first responders, public safety and corrections officers, those in assisted living, independent living, behavioral health and developmentally disabled group homes, adults age 75 and older, and those in education and essential to the continuity of government. The state offers a clinic-finder, sortable by address, ZIP Code or location to schedule appointments. There’s no information about pre-registering.
Massachusetts
Website
Hotline: n/a
In Massachusetts, individuals currently eligible for vaccination can visit mass.gov/CovidVaccineMap to view locations, including mass vaccination sites, sign-up and eligibility information. Sites will continue to be added with appointments released on a rolling basis. Current eligible residents include first responders including EMTs, police and fire, continues for residents and staff of long-term-care facilities and staff and residents of congregate-care settings, such as shelters and prisons. There are also specific websites for certain groups, such as first responders, long-term-care facilities and congregate-care providers. The state doesn’t have a central sign-up or scheduling system for the vaccine, according to the website.
Michigan
Website
Hotline: Each county has a listed phone number on the website.
Eligible frontline essential workers in Michigan will be notified by their employers about vaccine clinic dates and locations. These workers include school and child-care staff, frontline responders and corrections staff.
Michigan’s local health departments are scheduling vaccines, and more are coming online with this capability; those that are up and running have phone numbers listed on the state’s Covid-19 website. The state is only scheduling for appointments in the first group: Phase 1A; there aren’t appointments available for Phase 1B.
Minnesota
Website
Hotline: 883-431-2053
Minnesota recently launched a vaccine pilot program and opened community vaccination sites, with a link to make an appointment. The sites initially will serve adults age 65 and older, as well as educators (prekindergarten through grade 12), school staff and child-care workers. The state recommends that educators and child-care workers shouldn’t attempt to make an appointment unless they have been notified by employers that they have been selected to receive a vaccine.
As with other states, health-care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities were among the first to be eligible; there is no information about pre-registering for other groups.
Mississippi
Website
Hotline: 877-978-6453
Adults aged 65 and older, any adult with a chronic health condition, long-term-care facility residents and staff, health-care personnel and EMT/paramedics are currently eligible in Mississippi. The state says many health facilities will arrange vaccinations for their staff on-site, and other eligible Mississippians can be vaccinated at one of its drive-through vaccination sites.
There is no pre-registration for others listed.
Missouri
Website
Hotline: n/a
Missouri currently vaccinates residents, including long-term-care residents and staff, health-care workers, EMS/EMT and paramedics, first responders and emergency workers, and high-risk individuals or those with underlying health conditions. Eligible residents should contact a vaccinator on the website’s map to coordinate an appointment. However, the state hasn’t shared any information about pre-registering.
Montana
Website
Hotline: n/a
Montana has been vaccinating health-care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities, as well as health-care workers with direct patient contact, such as dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, optometrists, home health workers and others that fit the criteria. It recently expanded to include those age 70 years and older, persons age 16-69 with high-risk medical conditions and American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for Covid-19 complications.
Vaccination sites vary by county or jurisdiction; providers include local health departments, hospitals, community health centers, IHS and tribal health, and pharmacies. As the vaccine becomes more widely available, information will be posted at dphhs.mt.gov.
The state expects the vaccine will be broadly available to Montanans during the summer, but there is no pre-registration available.
Nebraska
Website
Hotline: 833 998-2275
Nebraska currently vaccinates frontline health-care workers and residents and staff of long-term-care facilities. Local health departments are coordinating vaccine efforts for priority groups. The state’s website says the next phase is projected to start in February for most areas and will include residents 65 and older, those who are at high-risk, as well as workers in critical industries who are unable to work remotely.
Local health departments are offering electronic sign-up to be notified when vaccination begins in their area. Those newly eligible should visit their local health department website to register.
Nebraska plans to launch a website to help residents register for the vaccination and receive updates, scheduling information and follow-up reminders; this is how residents will be notified when clinics begin in their area. There is no pre-registration available now.
Nevada
Website
Hotline: Listed county-by-county
Nevada currently vaccinates health-care workers, first responders, residents of long-term-care facilities and other essential workers in health-care settings. The Nevada State Immunization Program and the Board of Pharmacy have coordinated with retail pharmacies in Nevada to receive vaccine allocation to begin vaccinating those who are 70 and older.
Each county has its own distribution plan. Eligible residents should contact their county officials for more information, and there is an interest form that allows residents to be alerted when they are eligible. The website has a county-by-county breakdown of information, detailing who’s eligible. Some also have a scheduling link and a phone number.
New Hampshire
Website
Hotline: 211
New Hampshire currently vaccinates at-risk health workers, residents of long-term-care facilities, and first responders, and started vaccinating persons aged 65 and older, the medically vulnerable, intellectual and developmental disability residential facilities, and correctional facility staff.
As the state expands to other groups, eligible residents will be able to get vaccines from provider offices, urgent care, pharmacies and other local health-care facilities that have the capacity. The state has a registration website for eligible residents and they will receive an email when appointments are available. Other residents aren’t able to pre-register at this time.
People waited in line for the Covid-19 vaccine in Paterson, N.J., on Jan. 21 at one of the few sites that didn’t require an appointment.
New Jersey
Website
Hotline: 855-568-0545
New Jersey currently vaccinates health-care personnel, long-term-care residents and staff, first responders, individuals 65 and older and those deemed at high risk. Certain health-care facilities are directly vaccinating workers, while other eligible residents can make an appointment through one of the designated vaccine sites.
The state has a registration portal, and residents receive a confirmation email telling them what group they are in, but doesn’t offer a timeline or the ability to make appointments. The state aims to vaccinate 70% of its adult population within six months.
New Mexico
Website
Hotline: 1-855-600-3453
New Mexico currently vaccinates hospital personnel, residents and staff of long-term-care facilities, medical first responders, congregate-settings workers, persons providing direct medical care, home-based health-care and hospice workers, people aged 75 and older, and anyone over the age of 16 at risk of Covid-19 complications.
Residents can register to be notified when they are eligible for the vaccine.
New York
Website
Hotline: 1-833-687-4829
Currently eligible New Yorkers include: high-risk hospital workers, residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate-care facilities, federally qualified health center employees, EMS workers, coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers, staff and residents at the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Minority Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, urgent care providers, those administering the Covid-19 vaccine, outpatient/ambulatory workers, frontline/high-risk public health workers, individuals age 65 and older, first responder and support staff, police and investigators, public safety communications, certain sworn and civilian personnel, corrections workers, in-person college instructors, public school teachers and workers, child-care providers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, individuals living or working in a homeless shelter.
Eligible residents can contact pharmacies, hospitals and through local health departments. There also are state-run distribution sites, and residents can use this website to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment.
North Carolina
Website
Hotline: 1-877-490-6642
The state currently vaccinates health-care workers, long-term-care staff and residents as well as people aged 65 and older. The state lists vaccine providers, mostly local health departments and hospitals that residents can contact to get more information. There’s no pre-registration option listed.
North Dakota
Website
Hotline: n/a
North Carolina currently vaccinates health-care workers, first responders and long-term-care residents and staff, those aged 75 and older, residents with underlying health conditions, other congregate settings, child-care workers and employees of preschools and kindergarten through 12th grade.
The state has a vaccine locator, listing provider names by location and instructions on how to contact them. There’s no option to pre-register or to make online appointments.
Ohio
Website
Hotline: n/a
Ohio currently vaccinates health-care workers and personnel involved in Covid-19 care, residents and staff in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, patients and staff in psychiatric hospitals, those with developmental disabilities, mental health disorders who live in group homes, residential facilities or work there, residents and staff at the two state-run homes for state veterans, EMS responders, and residents over the age of 75. The state lists weekly dates for other eligible groups through Feb. 15.
Residents can get the vaccine through certain hospitals and health department pharmacies. There isn’t a way to pre-register but the state offers a vaccine provider locator by county and ZIP Code.
Oklahoma
Website
Hotline: 405-425-4489
The state currently vaccinates health-care workers, first responders and Oklahomans aged 65 and over, as well as long-term-care residents and staff. There are specific forms for health-care workers and dental personnel. There is a vaccine scheduling tool for eligible residents, and others can expect an email when they are eligible. The website also offers a list of vaccine centers.
Oregon
Website
Hotline: n/a
Oregon vaccinates health-care workers and long-term-care residents and employees. The website has a pop-up information tool for residents to determine eligibility. There is also a county-by-county breakdown with relevant information such as website links and phone numbers. However, there isn’t any information about pre-registration or appointments.
Pennsylvania
Website
Hotline: 1-877-724-3258
Pennsylvania currently vaccinates health-care workers, those living in long-term-care facilities, persons aged 65 and older, and any adult with high-risk conditions. The state has an eligibility quiz and a map to find a location to contact directly to schedule the appointment at locations such as hospitals, urgent care centers, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. There’s no pre-registration option.
Rhode Island
Website
Hotline: n/a
Rhode Island currently vaccinates residents in Phase 1: health-care workers, essential workers, first responders, those living in congregate settings and long-term-care facilities, and school nurses and teachers. The state expects to start Phase 2—vaccinating adults aged 75 and older—in February. The state’s FAQs say there is “no priority list or waiting list that people can join” and residents should check the website for updates.
South Carolina
Website
Hotline: 1-855-472-3432
South Carolina currently vaccinates eligible residents including frontline health-care workers and residents and staff of long-term-care facilities. The state has a vaccine locator for providers accepting appointments. However, eligible residents must call the provider to schedule one. There’s no pre-registration option.
The state expects to start Phase 1B, which includes frontline essential workers, in the spring.
South Dakota
Website
Hotline: n/a
South Dakota currently vaccinates eligible residents including frontline health-care workers, long-term care facility residents and workers, public health workers, EMS, law enforcement, correctional officers, persons aged 65 and older, high-risk patients, and high-risk residents in congregate settings, licensed independent living facilities and licensed group homes.
The state lists providers by county and their websites, which have eligibility questionnaires and the option to be added to the provider’s wait list.
Tennessee
Website
Hotline: n/a
Tennessee’s vaccine plan varies by county and most involve the 1A group and those 75 years and older. Some have started on the 1B group. Phase 1A includes inpatient health-care providers, first responders with direct exposure to the public, and staff and residents of long-term-care facilities, and those primarily working in outpatient health-care settings. Phase 1B includes teachers and staff of child-care centers and K-12 schools and other first responders. The state also offers an estimated timeline of eligibility.
Eligible residents may be offered a vaccine by their employer, through their local health department or through a partnering hospital. Some county health departments may be booking appointments. The state offers county-by-county information and an eligibility tool that allows residents to receive notifications about vaccine updates and new phases.
Central Texans lined up at a drive-through clinic for Covid-19 vaccines at Kelly Athletic Stadium in Round Rock on Jan. 21.
Texas
Website
Hotline: Contact numbers are listed by provider or hub.
The state currently vaccinates frontline health-care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities, people over the age of 65 and those with chronic conditions. There are large vaccination hubs around the state and eligible residents can check for appointments on a hub’s website; the state notes that each hub has a different process. There also is a vaccine provider map that lists providers, and eligible residents need to contact them directly.
There’s no pre-registration option.
Utah
Website
Hotline: Contact numbers are listed by providers.
Utah currently vaccinates health-care workers, long-term-care facility staff and residents, first responders, and K-12 teachers and school staff. Eligible residents should contact their local health department or school district to schedule an appointment. The state offers an option to sign up for email updates but there is no pre-registration option available.
Vermont
Website
Hotline: 855-722-7878
Vermont currently vaccinates health-care personnel, residents of long-term-care facilities and people 75 and older. Vaccines are available at regional clinics, partner hospitals, providers and pharmacies. The state doesn’t have a pre-registration option but allows eligible residents to make an online appointment.
Virginia
Website
Hotline: 877-275-8343
Virginia currently vaccinates groups 1A and 1B: health-care personnel, residents of long-term-care facilities, frontline essential workers, people age 65 and older, adults with underlying medical conditions, and those living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps. Most health-care workers are being vaccinated through their workplaces, employer-based clinics, local health departments, or through pharmacies, urgent care or health-care systems.
The state offers an eligibility tool but it doesn’t reserve a vaccine or an appointment.
Washington, D.C.
Website
Hotline: 855-363-0333
Washington, D.C., currently vaccinates health-care workers and those aged 65 and older. The website lists hospitals and health centers that are providing vaccines and there is also a registration portal at the bottom of the website that’s active when there are available appointments. The website states when they plan to open up more appointments.
Residents can sign up for alerts.
Betty Nelson, 81 years old, read on her tablet while waiting for a vaccine clinic in Sequim, Wash., to open on Jan 23.
Washington (state)
Website
Hotline: n/a
Washington currently vaccinates Tier 1 residents including health-care workers, first responders, residents and staff who live or work in long-term-care facilities, anyone aged 65 or older, and all people 50 and older who also live in a multigenerational household. The state offers residents a “phase finder” tool to determine eligibility and be notified when residents become eligible.
The state lists providers and contact information by county.
West Virginia
Website
Hotline: 1-833-734-0965
West Virginia currently vaccinates residents who are aged 65 and older, health-care workers, those in long-term-care and assisted-living facilities, pharmacists and first responders.
The state has community vaccination clinics but recommends residents contact their local health department to find out which vaccination management system they are using for enrollment and scheduling.
The state allows residents to pre-register to receive updates and facilitate appointment scheduling when eligible; the state estimates the time frame for the general population is March-October.
Wisconsin
Website
Hotline: n/a
Wisconsin currently vaccinates frontline health-care personnel, residents in skilled nursing and long-term-care facilities, police and fire personnel and correctional staff. The vaccine is being provided through health-care providers, pharmacies, local health departments, places of employment, and mass vaccination clinics, and the state says local health departments are coordinating many of the options. There’s no information about appointments or pre-registering.
Wyoming
Website
Hotline: n/a
Wyoming’s vaccination plan varies by county: Some are only vaccinating the 1A group that generally includes health-care providers and staff, while others have expanded their process to include the 1B group that includes people who are aged 70 or older and certain frontline essential workers. Each county has the contact information for the local health department, including vaccine clinic hours. There isn’t a central way to make appointments or to pre-register.
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