As of April 1, all Californians 50 or older are now eligible for vaccination. And, every Californian 16 and up will be eligible for vaccination on April 15, 2021. This is great news, as vaccination is one of the most important tools to end the COVID-19 pandemic. The State plans to equitably distribute a safe and effective vaccine to everyone in California who wants it.
That said, it isn’t necessarily easy to find an appointment, even for those who are internet and computer savvy.
Below are some good websites and resources to have on hand to schedule your vaccine when eligible. And, if you’re interested in helping ramp up the vaccination efforts in your community, particularly for people who are not tech-savvy, don’t have access to the internet, live in underserved areas or don’t have the time to look for available slots, included are some ways to do so.
Scheduling your vaccine once eligible
One of the main resources for scheduling your vaccine is through the state’s website MyTurn: Throughout the spring, as vaccine supply increases and the statewide vaccinator network grows, you will be able to schedule an appointment through California’s MyTurn, in two ways:
- On-line at myturn.ca.gov. The MyTurn website is accessible to people with disabilities and in eight languages: English, Spanish, simplified and traditional Chinese, Arabic, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. It’s best to schedule your vaccine through this online tool. If you’re not able to go online, you can use the COVID-19 Hotline below.
- Calling the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255 or 1-833-4CA-4ALL (M-F 8AM-8PM, Sa-Su 8AM-5PM). The Hotline is accessible to people with disabilities and offers services in English and Spanish, with connections to interpretive services in more than 250 languages.
You can also contact your local public health department for a list of vaccination sites in your county. And you can contact your local drug store or pharmacy to schedule an appointment.
Here is a list of ways to schedule with some of the bigger pharmacy companies, as listed in a recent news article:
- Walgreens: Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment here, or call 1-800-Walgreens or 1-800-925-4733 to find participating locations.
- Rite Aid: Start with the vaccine scheduler to determine vaccine eligibility and schedule an appointment.
- CVS: Visit the online scheduler or the CVS app to book an appointment.
- Safeway: Start here by searching for a nearby store, confirm eligibility and schedule an appointment.
For more information on vaccines, see the State’s website: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/.
Helping ramp up vaccination efforts in your community
If you’d like to help others in your community get their vaccinations, you can start be searching for volunteer opportunities with your local public health department, community-based organizations, community clinics and/or senior centers. Some volunteer opportunities may require you to have a medical background, while others do not. You can help out at a vaccination site, distribute information and pamphlets on vaccines, and more.
For a list of ideas in the Bay Area, see San Francisco Chronicle’s article: How to help ramp up COVID vaccination efforts in your Bay Area community.
As vaccination efforts continue, also be aware of common COVID vaccine scams. If you come across anything suspicious, you can report it to our California Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-8070.
