appointments in Pennsylvania since mid-December.
En español | Who can get vaccinated now?
- Everyone age 12 and up
What's happening in Philadelphia?
- Philadelphia County receives independent federal funding, so it has its own distribution roadmap, which was updated in July.
- The city's COVID-19 website has more information about the vaccines, who is currently eligible and how to sign up.
- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is "strongly encouraging" people to wear masks indoors at places where it is uncertain whether everyone is vaccinated.
Where can I get a vaccine?
- The federal government’s vaccines website, Vaccines.gov, lets you search for vaccination sites by zip code, with links to appointments. Get the same information by texting your zip code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233 (TTY: 888-720-7489).
- Certain retail pharmacies, some of which accept walk-ins, no appointment required. If you'd prefer to make an appointment ahead of time, check the websites of Rite Aid, Weis Markets, Wegmans and Giant Eagle for scheduling. You can get an appointment through CVS — including at some Target stores with CVS pharmacies inside — online or by calling 800-746-7287. All Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies are accepting walk-ins.
- Check the state’s COVID-19 vaccine website for updates. You can also call the health department at 877-724-3258 toll-free or use the Your Turn eligibility tool to see if you can get a vaccine and sign up for vaccine updates from the health department. Pennsylvania's COVID-19 dashboard tracks how many people have been vaccinated in the state.
- Veterans Affairs facilities are vaccinating veterans, spouses and veteran caregivers. You can sign up with VA.
- Many transit agencies are offering free or discounted rides to and from vaccination sites.
AARP recommends that you ask your doctor about the safety, effectiveness, benefits and risks of the coronavirus vaccine. Older adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions, are at increased risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?
Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Officials recommend that you bring a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency, and your health insurance card, if you have one. You will not be charged, but the vaccine provider may bill your insurer a fee for administering the vaccine.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to wear a mask at your appointment.
How will residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities get vaccinated?
Most residents and staff of long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania were offered vaccines through a federal program that contracted with CVS and Walgreens to give out free shots at on-site clinics. The program has ended, but the federal government is still allocating vaccines to ensure facilities have access to shots for new residents and staff, as well as those who were initially hesitant to receive them.
Do I have to pay for the vaccination?
You should not have any out-of-pocket cost for getting the vaccine. AARP fought to make sure the federal government is covering the cost of the vaccine itself. Providers can recoup a fee for administering the shot, but not from consumers. They would be reimbursed by the patient’s insurance company or the government (in the case of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured, for example).
Scammers are purporting to offer COVID vaccines and treatments and trying to charge for them. AARP's Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.
Which vaccines require a second shot?
The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna require two doses. If you get one of these, you’ll need a follow-up dose to be effectively immunized. The recommended second-shot date is three weeks after a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and four weeks for Moderna’s, but the CDC says an interval of up to six weeks is acceptable. You should get a card from your provider stating when and where to return for the second dose. The state says it will send reminders via text, emails and phone calls.
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine requires just one shot. Federal officials warn that the vaccine has been connected with rare, severe blood clots in a small number of recipients, especially in women age 50 years and younger, and an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.
It’s still unclear how long the vaccines protect recipients. Many experts predict boosters will be needed in the future, but there is currently no clear timeline for additional shots.
What should I do with my vaccine card?
You should get a small white card at your vaccination appointment with your name, birth date, name of the vaccine you received and the date it was administered. If you receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, bring your card when you get your second shot.
You may need your vaccine card for certain kinds of travel or other activities, so keep it in a safe place. You can take a photo of it with your smartphone for your own records. Experts say that posting a photo of your card to social media could make you vulnerable to identity theft. If you lose your card or did not receive one, contact your vaccine provider or your local health department to get a copy.
When will kids be able to get vaccinated?
Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for those age 12 and older; the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for those 18 and older. Both Pfizer and Moderna are researching how their vaccines work in children as young as 6 months.
Should I still wear a mask after getting vaccinated?
It takes two weeks to build immunity after the single-dose shot and after the second dose of the two-dose shots. Due to the continuing circulation of the Delta variant, the CDC is recommending fully vaccinated people in areas with high and substantial COVID-19 transmission wear a mask in indoor settings, including schools.
The CDC recommends continuing to wear a mask on planes, buses and trains and other shared transport while traveling into, within or out of the United States.
This guide was originally published on Dec. 17. It was updated on Aug. 2 with new information from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.