When can I get my covid-19 vaccine in the US? where to check
In over half the states in the US any adult over 16 is eligible to get vaccinated. The White House has said that all adults will be eligible by mid-April.
The US continues to increase the pace of vaccinations with a reported a single-day record of 4.1 million administered on Saturday. The current 7-day average is over 3 million doses per day as vaccine production picks up speed and more mass vaccination sites open.
Speaking to reporters on Monday White House advisor for covid-19 Andy Slavitt said “As of today, nearly 1 in 3 Americans and over 40 percent of adults have at least one shot and nearly 1 in 4 adults are now fully vaccinated.” Currently nearly 31 million of the 65 and older population have been fully vaccinated representing over 56 percent of seniors according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Where and when can I get vaccinated?
President Joe Biden is expected to announce on Tuesday that all Americans will be eligible to get a covid-19 vaccination shot by 19 April according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "That doesn't mean they will get it that day, that means they can join the line that day if they have not already done that beforehand," Psaki said. Currently 31 states have opened vaccination eligibility to all adults over 16.
The federal government will expand the number of pharmacies receiving doses of vaccine from 17,000 to 40,000 by mid-April increasing access to Americans across the country. The White House has estimated previously that 90 percent of adults will have a vaccination center within 5 miles of their home by mid-April.
In order to find out where you can get your jab, NBC news has a created a useful online page, Plan Your Vaccine, where you can enter your state, age and occupation to check your eligibility to get your jab. The website also offers a map to locate the nearest vaccination site to you with contact information so that you can make an appointment. As well you can check how the vaccination rollout is going in your state.
The CDC warns caution even if fully vaccinated
Even as many states are beginning to roll back mask mandates and reopen states to business-as-usual, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, warned last week that if people don't follow CDC guidelines about mask-wearing and social distancing there will be "impending doom" even with the rising number of people receiving vaccines. Currently the US is experiencing a new surge in cases with new, more infectious variants spreading.
People who are fully vaccinated against covid-19 are allowed to freely travel in the US. You are considered fully vaccinated after 2 weeks from the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
However, the CDC cautions even if you are fully vaccinated that you should still take precautions like wearing a mask, socially distancing and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. You must still follow mask mandates for travel on planes, trains and buses.