As more states roll out their vaccination program, many people are anxious to know if they qualify and how to get vaccinated as soon as possible. To make sure you’re in line for those important injections, here’s what you need to know.
Find Out When You’re Eligible For Vaccination
Every state has a priority-based guideline for vaccination its population. While the first phase was indisputably focused on healthcare workers and persons who live in long-term care facilities, the next phase is not as clear-cut. Some states are committed to vaccinating essential workers and the elderly.
Others have prioritized persons with disabilities or those who have life-threatening illnesses. It’s best to check your state’s health department website to see what its guidelines are.
Locate Vaccine Providers In Your Area
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has vetted providers and distributors of the vaccine according to strict eligibility criteria. To find the providers that are close to you, use this designated site. It will make it easier to determine which providers to call and make appointments quickly.
Get Creative With Your Eligibility
Once you’re clear on the guidelines that apply to your state and where the vaccine is located in your community, it’s time to decide where you fall. For example, the definition of an essential worker can be fairly broad in certain states. However, if you still don’t fall within that category, it can also be helpful to list yourself as a caregiver (if you’re taking care of an elderly relative or someone who has a chronic illness) or a healthcare advocate/volunteer.
Also, If you have been classified as overweight or obese based on your BMI, that can work in your favor as well.
Schedule Your Appointments in The Early Morning
When making attempts ot schedule your appointment over the phone or online, many other people want to get vaccinated just a s quickly as you do.
Your local vaccine distribution centers are bombarded with calls all day and a lot of those calls end up going to voicemail. However, several people who have successfully secured an appointment via the call-in method started calling early in the morning. Some even around 5 or 6 AM.
Add Your Name to The Waiting List
If you aren’t able to get them on the phone, you may want to try visiting the pharmacy and requesting to be placed on the waiting list. Many black communities are struggling with unused vaccines due to missed appointments.
By adding yourself to the waitlist, you are in line to recieve a vaccine early based on those missed appointments.
Get To Know Your Local Pharmacists
Adding yourself to the waitlist is a great first step, and a good way to bump yourself up to the top of that list is to familiarize yourself with your local pharmacists. Simply learning their name or even having a short conversation with them when you visit, could lead to you reciving a call sooner than later.
Be Persistent
Even if you haven’t been able to schedule a vaccination, it’s a good idea to follow up with your local vaccine providers daily about any missed appointments. That’s because providers can’t break the ‘cold chain’ or the vaccine will have to be discarded.
With such a limited supply, they would much rather give the vaccine to someone who needs it instead of tossing it out.
Ask Your Doctor
If you still aren’t having much luck locating the vaccine in-stock in your community. Ask you doctor. Your doctor most likely has a place in mind, especialluy if your eligable or high risk.
Add Your Family Members to The Waiting List
When you’re making appointments, don’t forget about family members who may be eligible as well. Depending on the phase your state is in, persons as young as 16 can get the vaccine. That means they can be placed on your vaccine provider’s waiting list too.
Share The Information With Your Loved Ones
A lot of people are in the same boat as you are. They’re trying to find out if and when they will be vaccinated. Help them out by sharing what you’ve learned because, at the end of the day, the aim is to get as many persons vaccinated as possible.
The pandemic is far from over but the vaccine will go a long way to giving persons the tools they need to fight it. While states are working on finalizing who needs to be prioritized, keep your eye on what that could mean for you. The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you can stop worrying about it.
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