Plan Your COVID Vaccine With These Handy Websites

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By May 1 this year, Joe Biden is aiming to make every adult eligible for a COVID vaccine by ordering states to pull back their jab restrictions.

The goal is to have the nation as close to normal as possible so that all citizens can celebrate Independence Day on July 4 with their loved ones.

As of March 11 just under 100 million Americans had received at least one dose of a vaccine, meaning there are likely to be around 150 million people left who need to be vaccinated between now and May.

For those who still need to get vaccinated, there are several websites that offer help in finding local vaccine centers, which may be tricky as eligibility requirements vary by state. Newsweek has rounded up some of them below.

VaccineFinder

VaccineFinder, which is promoted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, works with partners including clinics and health departments to offer a free online service that provides information on vaccination providers. It is run by epidemiologists and software developers at Boston Children's Hospital.

Zocdoc

On Zocdoc, users enter information about themselves, including their age and whether or not they are an essential worker, and the site will send them emails when vaccines are available. The service also allows people to see doctor open appointment times, book online, and see reviews. Zocdoc was co-founded by Cyrus Massoumi, who has also gone on to create Dr B.

Dr B

Dr B is a service that connects vaccine providers with people, specifically for leftover vaccine doses. Users provide the website with information which helps the service understand their vaccine prioritization. Then, the site sends a text to the user when a nearby provider declares it has leftover vaccine doses.

Certain types of COVID vaccine such as thePfizer dose must be kept in cold storage, and when they are taken out and defrosted ready for injection, they only last hours. It means if doses do not find a recipient, they must be thrown away, creating a rush for leftover doses. In some cases, shots have been offered to drugstore customers at the end of the day, The New York Times reported.

VaccineHunter

VaccineHunter offers a search function to help users find local COVID vaccine groups. Select a state, and the website will list Facebook groups or other services that guide users through vaccine eligibility and appointments. It also offers users tips on how to find leftover vaccines, such as looking to see whether local vaccination clinics offer a standby or cancellation list, which it says can be the easiest way to get a leftover vaccine.

Vaxxmax

Vaxxmax works by directing users to the nearest Rite Aid, Walgreens, or CVS stores that offer a COVID vaccine. Users can enter which of the three retail outlets they would like to get their vaccine from, which state they live in, and a zipcode, and the service will direct them to the nearest outlet if possible. Its listings are frequently updated.

Creator Adam Freemer wrote on the tool's Facebook page: "The tool is free but donations to cover hosting and development costs are welcome."