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.
If somebody has taken drugs and becomes unresponsive, call 911 immediately. These resources are intended for preventive measures only.
Why Vaccines?
Vaccines are safe and are the best protection from serious illnesses.
The COVID-19 vaccine can keep you from getting COVID-19, and is supposed to lessen symptoms if you do contract the virus.
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
Learn more about how the government is ensuring the safety of vaccines.
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.
Request A Replacement Vaccine Record
Did you lose or misplace your COVID-19 vaccine card? Get a copy of your record from the Department of Health one of two ways:
- ONLINE: Request your immunization record
- BY MAIL OR EMAIL: Fill out this form and mail or email it in
You will need to upload or send in a copy of your photo ID to access your records.
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.
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.
