State-by-State Guide to COVID Vaccine Information

December 24, 2020 – People wanting to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will need to be patient.

Although some politicians and celebrities have already received the vaccine, distribution to the public will take longer. Each state has set priorities as to who gets the vaccine first, based on recommendations from the federal government. Currently, states are rolling out the vaccine in categories based on need.

Healthcare workers and people living in nursing homes are the top priority and they started receiving the vaccine in mid-December. People aged 75 and over, along with essential workers such as first responders, will be next. Adults between 65 and 75 years old and younger people (between 16 and 64 years old) at high risk, as well as other essential workers, will receive the vaccine in the next phase.

Assuming there is enough vaccine to circulate after that, anyone will be able to get one, possibly in late spring or early summer. From now on, the vaccine will be available to the public at most drugstore chains like CVS, Walgreens and others; as well as in-store pharmacies at Costco, Kroger, Target, Publix, HEB and other national and regional chains.

Experts suggest checking the websites of state public health departments regularly for information. Some states offer vaccine safety information, details of who is eligible for vaccines now, and ways to sign up for COVID-19 alerts and vaccines. These websites are listed below.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Colombia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Caroline from the south

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming