Getting the COVID Vaccine
Getting the COVID Vaccine
Updated May 7, 2021
More than 3 million Pennsylvanians are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and our vaccine supply increases each week — getting more and more shots into arms.
All adult Pennsylvanians are eligible to be vaccinated. Experts are working on approving vaccines for children younger than 16.
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 1-877-724-3258.
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 way to protect yourself and those around you 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?
All Pennsylvania adults are now eligible to be vaccinated.
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 also 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.
When you get the vaccine, you and the person administering the vaccine will both need to wear masks that cover your nose and mouth.
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 Both 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 your received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are fully protected after one dose.
Keep Others Safe
While we continue to get the vaccine rolled out to everyone who wants one, please keep up with the risk-reduction measures below. When we play it safe, we keep people who aren’t protected from getting sick.
- Keep your physical distance from people in public
- Avoid crowds
- Practice good health habits — such as washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and wiping down high-touch surfaces
- Download the COVID Alert PA mobile app
COVID mitigation orders will be lifted on May 31.
Mask Up, PA
Please continue to wear cloth face coverings (masks) when in public, and especially around people who are at high-risk of serious illness who have not been vaccinated.
The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home.
In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities
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 1-877-724-3258.
