Getting the COVID Vaccine

Getting the COVID Vaccine

Updated Sept. 12, 2022

Pennsylvanians 6 months and older are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID.

Pennsylvanians 5 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Use this guide to find out how to get a vaccine. If you have questions about the vaccination process in Pennsylvania, please call the Pennsylvania Department of Health hotline at 877-724-3258.

Learn more about COVID resources for Pennsylvanians.

Who Is Eligible?

Pennsylvanians ages 6 months and older can receive the COVID vaccine.

Parents seeking appointments for children younger than 3 should contact their pediatrician, family doctor, or other qualified physicians. Pharmacists are only allowed to vaccinate children ages 3 and older.

Vaccines for Young Children

A three-dose Pfizer vaccine is available for kids younger than 5 years old, and a two-dose Moderna vaccine is available for kids younger than 6 years old. Both vaccines are approved for kids as young as 6 months old.

 

Step 1: Find a Vaccine Provider

Click “Find a Vaccine” below to find a place to schedule your vaccine.

Vaccine providers include hospitals, urgent care centers, doctor’s offices, and pharmacies. Providers have to be registered to receive the vaccine — so make sure your chosen provider is listed before continuing to Step 3.

PHILLY RESIDENTS: The city has its own vaccination plan. Go here for vaccine information and to find a vaccine near you.

Veterans, their spouses, and caregivers are eligible to receive vaccine through Veterans Affairs. Visit the VA website for more information.

Step 2: Contact A Provider To Schedule An Appointment

Contact the vaccine provider of your choice directly from the map above to schedule an appointment for your vaccine.

You will receive a vaccination card that tells you which COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. The card also will remind you to return for a second dose if needed.

Learn more about how to prepare for your vaccine.

Step 3: Be Sure to Get Follow-Up Doses

The Moderna and Pfizer COVID vaccines are administered in two doses. You will have to return to your vaccination provider to get the second dose of the vaccine before you are done being vaccinated.

If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are fully protected after one dose.

People who are older than 50 or immunocompromised may be eligible for a third dose.

Booster Shots

Pennsylvanians ages 5 and older are eligible for booster doses of vaccine once they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Booster doses will be available annually.

Like the flu vaccine, the COVID-19 annual booster will be optimized against the variants that are the biggest threats each year.

  • Find a provider near you to schedule. Select the “Newly Authorized Bivalent” option for this year’s booster.

  • Not sure if it’s time for a booster? Use the CDC’s booster quiz to find out. Scroll down and click “Find Out When to Get a Booster” to get started.

 

Commonwealth Employees

Commonwealth employees in state health care facilities and high-risk congregate care facilities were required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 7, 2021.

Individuals who are not vaccinated are required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.

All new external hires in these facilities must be vaccinated before commencing employment.

Starting October 1, 2021: ​All vaccinated state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction are eligible for additional paid time off.

More information about this initiative.

Questions?

Use the buttons below to get even more information on COVID vaccines in Pennsylvania.

You also can call the Pennsylvania Department of Health hotline at 877-724-3258.

Was this Helpful ?

PA Keystone Logo

WORK SMART. LIVE HAPPY.