How To Sign Up For a COVID-19 Vaccine In Every State

Since COVID-19 vaccine distribution began in the United States in December 2020, the guidance for where doses are allocated and who is eligible to receive them has been challenging to follow. From a federal level, vaccines were originally distributed based on the adult population of each state, but by mid-January, allocation become dependent on how quickly a state could vaccinate. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents be first in line for vaccines, but states were able to create their own priority groups.

On March 11, 2020, President Biden announced that states will be directed to make all adults eligible for vaccination by May 1. Most states had opened up eligibility to those ages 16 and older well ahead of schedule when the President announced that nationwide eligibility had been moved to April 19. Nonetheless, supplies vary by region. To find a vaccine provider, check with your own state's health department or use the CDC's VaccineFinder tool to search for options in your area.

Below, you can find each state's information on vaccine registration. Some states simply provide information and phone numbers, while others have vaccine registration portals.

Alabama

Alabama is scheduling vaccinations through county health departments. To make a vaccination appointment with your county health department, visit their portal, ALCovidVaccine.gov. Some counties also offer drive-thru or walk-in clinics, or mass clinics. To find drive-thru or walk-in locations, use the Vaccine Clinic Dashboard to find the location nearest you.

Alaska

Alaska's vaccine response page doesn't have a registration option. You can find your nearest location for vaccination using their provider locator map or you can browse appointments available via select providers.

Arizona

Due to limited vaccine supplies, vaccine phases are specific to the county in Arizona. There is a map-based finder on the landing page to find providers and sign up through the location-specific registration websites. There is also a portal to sign up for appointments at mass vaccination sites that include stadiums and colleges.

Arkansas

Arkansas's COVID-19 response page offers a searchable map of vaccine administration sites. Registration is through the vaccine administrator.

California

California has a dedicated vaccine portal to walk residents through the process of finding an appointment at the nearest vaccine location. If there are no nearby appointments available, residents can sign up to receive email notifications of when they can sign up.

Colorado

Colorado has no central portal for vaccine registration, but information and links are available by county and service provider on their COVID-19 response page. On a county level, many service providers offer a sign-up portal and email notification of when your spot is available.

Connecticut

On the landing page of the Connecticut Vaccine Portal, a vaccine clinic finder based on zip code will provide a list of vaccination locations. This page will also allow residents to find providers that will schedule by phone. For some providers, scheduling is conducted through the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). For others, you can schedule through the provider's website. For those that need additional help, the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line is available from seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 877-918-2224.

Delaware

Delaware provides links to participating pharmacy chains. The state is also holding several mass vaccination events for residents. To sign up for one of these, visit vaccinerequest.delaware.gov. Once there, click 'Get Started' to fill out the preregistration survey. You will be confirmed via email about upcoming events. For those without access to a computer, the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center can be reached at 833-643-1715 and will help make initial waitlist requests. The state of Delaware site warns that using the Vaccine Request Portal doesn't secure a place in line and to get the vaccine if it is made available to you by a local provider.

D.C.

Washington D.C. has a clear, straightforward portal with several options for registering for the vaccine. Residents may register with the government site, with any of the participating hospitals that they've been seen at in the past two years, or at one of the district health centers.

Florida

Although there is no central registration to sign up for the vaccine, Florida Public Health offers a clear and easy-to-navigate portal to find participating vaccine administration sites. Appointments are booked directly with the vaccine locations.

Georgia

The Georgia Department of Public Health offers a vaccine finder tool. Registration for appointments is through each individual location. There is also a portal to preregister for mass vaccination sites and the health department has a vaccine scheduling resource line: 888-457-0186.

Hawaii

Hawaii's COVID-19 Portal has links to each county where you can find the list of locations to inquire about appointments.

Idaho

Idaho's COVID-19 information portal has locations based on health districts comprised of several counties each. Many administration sites offer hotlines or online appointment scheduling. In addition, Idaho also has a statewide COVID-19 preregistration system where you can enter your information and be contacted when appointments become available.

Illinois

The Illinois Coronavirus information page offers a map with active links to vaccine administration sites around the state. Appointments may be made with the individual sites.

Indiana

The Indiana Department of Health has created a "vaccine waiting room" information hub to find a location and book an appointment directly with the administration site.

Iowa

Iowa has established a coronavirus portal that guides residents to providers that are administering the vaccine by county.

Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health links to the CDC's VaccineFinder tool. Appointments must be made with individual providers.

Kentucky

Kentucky Public Health has established a main portal for finding an administration site by location. There is an option to sign up for email notifications of when residents are able to make an appointment. Residents can make an appointment with the individual provider online.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Health offers a list of vaccine administration locations on their COVID-19 response page. Appointments may be made with individual providers.

Maine

The office of the Governor of Maine's COVID-19 response site offers a list of administration sites. Appointments must be booked directly with providers.

Maryland

According to Maryland's COVID-19 page, vaccinations are available through hospitals, local health departments, pharmacies, and mass vaccination sites. Appointments may be found via a search tool and booked directly with providers.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers vaccinations through mass vaccination sites (public event spaces), general vaccination sites (healthcare providers or pharmacy/grocery stores), and local vaccination sites (specific to each town). Mass vaccination sites will release appointments on Thursdays. Appointments must be booked directly with the locations administering the vaccine.

Michigan

Michigan's COVID response page organizes all appointments by local health departments only. Links to each county health department are available on their landing page, and phone number hotlines are listed where available. Once residents access their county portal, they may register to receive the vaccine and will be notified via email or phone call.

Minnesota

Minnesota's COVID-19 response page features a searchable map with vaccine locations. Residents are encouraged to speak directly with their healthcare provider. Appointments must be made with individual administration sites. For community vaccination sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Bloomington, Saint Paul, or Mankato residents are being chosen at random after preregistering.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Health has a single portal for booking appointments. Since the vaccine supply varies from week to week, appointments are variable as well.

Missouri

The Missouri Department of Health has a Missouri Vaccine Navigator tool to register for a vaccine and schedule an appointment. The site warns it may not capture every event in each area and encourages residents to check with their county health departments and local healthcare facilities.

Montana

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services has provided a searchable county map. By clicking on a county, the map connects residents to county health department websites and social media, where updates to registration and drive-through events are available.

Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services offers a clear and easy way to register for the vaccine. Once it's available, they will be contacted to set up an appointment. Vaccines are not distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, however. Vaccines are being allocated depending on the number of eligible recipients living in an area, so some places may have more availability than others.

Nevada

Nevada's public health department has a website called Immunize Nevada that lists each county and places accepting appointments. For those residing in the southern half of the state, the Southern Nevada Health District's page offers direct links to appointments, if available, by provider.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire residents are invited to register on the New Hampshire COVID-19 vaccine page. Once registered, they will be contacted via email when an appointment is available.

New Jersey

The New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System is available for preregistration on their COVID-19 Information Hub.

New Mexico

New Mexico's Department of Health website features a convenient registration system. Residents must create a profile. After that, they may schedule appointments, enter demographic info, and more.

New York

New York's COVID-19 vaccine site offers a portal to schedule an appointment at any of the New York State-run vaccine sites. Click 'Get Started'. There are no private companies listed for other appointments at this time.

North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services page features click-through portals to find the vaccine administrator location closest to you. There is no central registration to secure a spot in line at this time.

North Dakota

North Dakota's Health Department links to the CDC's VaccineFinder tool. Appointments must be made with individual providers.

Ohio

Ohio's Department of Health doesn't offer a site to register for a vaccine, but it does offer a searchable map of vaccine administrators. Appointments may be made with individual providers.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma's Department of Health offers a clear and easy portal for registration for the vaccine. Fill out the COVID-19 questionnaire and you'll be guided to make an appointment.

Oregon

Vaccine information may be obtained by county, with many counties offering sign-ups through their specific health departments.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Public Health website offers tools to find a vaccine provider. Appointments are made directly with vaccine administration locations. Residents of Philadelphia County have their own program separate from the state, and eligible residents can reserve a place in line on Philadelphia's COVID-19 vaccination page.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Health offers appointment scheduling for state-run vaccination sites and pharmacies, as well as a search tool for local vaccination sites.

South Carolina

South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control site doesn't offer registration but does point residents to a vaccine provider map searchable by zip code. Appointments may be made with individual providers.

South Dakota

South Dakota's Department of Health doesn't have a sign-up but has an option to find vaccine providers by county. Registration details are available on the county level and with individual vaccination locations.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Health is funneling all vaccine inquiries to county health centers. Once the county is chosen on a map, residents may request an appointment and join waiting lists for open spots by date.

Texas

Texas has established vaccine hubs for mass vaccinations around the state, but the state is also using community providers. Registration for both hubs and community providers happens through the individual locations, rather than the state department of health. A list of the hub providers is available on the Texas Department of State Health Services website, as is a link to a community providers map.

Utah

All vaccine administration in Utah is being handled through county health departments and local pharmacies. A list of county health departments and local pharmacies with their phone numbers and active links are available on the Utah COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution page, where residents may also sign up for vaccine updates.

Vermont

The Vermont Department of Health offers a clear way to make appointments through their "Vaccine Appointments" click-through link. Once there, residents create a profile and can make an appointment. The site currently says that there are adequate appointments for everyone that is eligible.

Virginia

Virginia's Department of Health site guides residents to VaccineFinder to search for vaccine providers and appointments in their area. There is also an option to preregister for a priority appointment for those who were eligible in Phase 1 but have not been able to schedule an appointment. The site states that those who preregister will be contacted by their local health district within one week. There is also a call center that can help with preregistration and finding appointments: 877-829-4682.

Washington

The Washington State Department of Health site lets you check vaccine availability by ZIP code. Appointments must be made with individual locations.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources offers a statewide registration system. Once registered, an appointment isn't made, but residents will be notified on vaccine availability and when they can schedule an appointment.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a map of vaccine providers and directs residents to contact their local health departments for updates on where to receive the vaccine. There is no registration.

Wyoming

The Wyoming Department of Health directs residents to their county health departments. Each county has a link to a preregistration form. An additional vaccination form may be needed in some counties. Check local health departments for specifics.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.