The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have launched a new COVID-19 vaccine tracker that helps Americans see where they can find vaccine supplies near them.
What is happening?
CDC teamed up with Boston Children’s Hospital and Castlight Health to launch the new tracker, which shows inventory data from vaccine providers across the country.
- The tool is simple.
- You visit the website and click on “Find COVID-19 vaccines”.
- You will then be asked to enter your postal code.
- After doing this, you can define the distance you want the tool to report.
- Then, the search begins.
The results appear in a long list of locations, sharing pharmacies and information from the local health department. There is also a green check mark if a location has vaccine stock or a gray circle if there is no vaccine at that location.
To remember …
- The website reminds viewers that COVID-19 vaccines “are limited and appointments are required in most locations”.
- The website advises people to check with their local health departments before confirming whether or not they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Key quote
“The idea is to show where the suppliers of vaccine COVID-19 are open to the public – how to contact them, how to make an appointment and try to show the status of the daily inventory so that people know where there is a vaccine and where there is not,” he said. John Brownstein, founder of VaccineFinder and director of information at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Anything else?
Most states have limited distribution to certain suppliers, since they are receiving the vaccine from the federal government. But Alaska, Indiana, Iowa and Tennessee show all hospitals, clinics and public vaccination sites for people, according to NPR.
- More providers will be available in the near future.
Larger photo
The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed throughout the United States. According to Bloomberg, about 66.5 million doses have been distributed. There was an average of 1.3 million doses a day last week.