- Since coronavirus vaccines are launched in the United States, regulations and procedures for obtaining vaccines can be confusing for some.
- Each state comes with its own set of guidelines for who gets the vaccine and when.
- For information about your state’s vaccination process, check the website of your city or county health department or call your local COVID-19 hotline.
- Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.
As of January 22, 17 million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States, with about 38 million doses distributed across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The first wave of vaccinations was quite simple and limited to frontline health professionals.
But now the launch is expanding, and the remaining 310 million Americans, who are awaiting their turn, may wonder when they will be able to receive that important first dose.
Read More: US states where it is easier and harder to get a coronavirus injection
Here is a guide to finding your state’s guidelines and applying for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Check your state’s Department of Health website for registration sites and eligibility status
Not only does each state have different guidelines for vaccine distribution, but it also varies from city to city and county to county. Therefore, it is important to find the rules specific to your state.
Most cities and counties have information about the COVID-19 vaccine on the website of the local health department. This website can provide information on what documents you must bring to be vaccinated and where you can be vaccinated.
Some cities and counties will have official forms that patients can fill out to see if you are eligible and indicate an interest in receiving the vaccine. Others, like New York City, allow you to book appointments online to be vaccinated at different vaccination sites.
Some cities and counties, such as Los Angeles and New Orleans, will have a list of hospitals and vaccination facilities in the area where patients can make an appointment.
Some states have COVID-19 vaccine hotlines to help you register
States may have an additional COVID-19 hotline to ask questions about the vaccine, such as who is eligible, where to apply and where to get vaccines.
Mississippi allows residents to schedule their vaccination appointments over the phone by calling (877) 978-6453.
Read More: What the COVID-19 vaccine could mean for the future of travel
Some states, including Maryland and Massachusetts, allow residents to apply to receive text notifications about the vaccine to send a notice when different priority groups start to be vaccinated.
If you are eligible, look for nonprofit doctors in the area who have vaccination application forms
If you have determined that you are eligible under your state’s guidelines, your local health department’s website can direct you to a nonprofit medical initiative, such as The Black Doctors Consortium in Philadelphia and Community of Hope in Washington DC for make an appointment to get vaccinated.
You can find these nonprofits by checking the list of COVID-19 vaccination sites on the website of the local health department.
It is important to note that these guidelines are changing rapidly as more doses of the vaccine are distributed, so remember to continue to check for updates with your local health authorities.