Eligibility to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine in California is about to expand, but the ability to obtain an injection is still painfully slow and difficult.
Here are some specific tips that can help you get an appointment faster.
First, access the Internet, but not just county websites. Visit sites like vaccinhunter.org and Dr. B. Think of both as modern matchmakers.
Janet Pitcher, known as a “vaccine whisperer”, has already helped 30 people find appointments.
What is her secret? Pharmacies like Rite Aid and CVS open new appointments at 12:01 pm every day on their websites.
“Honestly, my biggest source of consultation is through real pharmacies,” said Pitcher. “They tend to carry their appointments after midnight.”
You can also find appointments on websites like Dr. B, which lists people looking for appointments with doses.
“It literally takes 90 seconds,” said Dr. B’s founder, Cyrus Massoumi.
Just enter your data on a computer or cell phone. They’ll match you for free, and they don’t stop.
“This happens until each dose is determined,” said Massoumi.
You will want to bookmark the sites because nominations are about to become even more difficult to find in April, when eligibility expands in California.
“When Governor Newsom says things like, ‘Let’s open up to the whole world,’ the problem is that, just as you are describing, vaccine appointments are scarce,” said Massoumi.
If you are frustrated because your category has already emerged and you have not gotten a chance, Dr. B will prioritize ensuring that the elderly communities and frontline workers receive their doses.