How to Sign Up for a COVID Vaccine Online (Plus, How Much Will It Cost & When Is It My Turn?)

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

As the COVID-19 vaccines roll out, more and more people are becoming eligible—which means more and more people are signing up for an appointment online. With information constantly changing and updating, navigating these sites can be a little tough. We’ve answered your questions, so you can make an appointment online and get the vaccine as soon as possible.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
How much will it cost to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

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The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone. Regardless of whether you have insurance, you will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you do have insurance, your provider will be billed, but you won’t have to pay anything.^{[1]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
When will it be my turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

1
When your state says that you are eligible for it. Each state is responsible for rolling out vaccine eligibility, and most are moving at different rates. Most states are rolling out their vaccines in phases, starting with frontline workers and at-risk people. From there, they’ll slowly work toward incorporating more and more of the population. If you aren’t certain if you’re eligible or not, check out your state’s government website for updates.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
How do I sign up for the COVID vaccine?

1
Get an appointment with your local government if you can. They’re in charge of vaccine distribution, so they probably have the most appointments right now. You can go on your local government’s website to find out when and where you can make an appointment, although this process may vary state by state.^{[3]
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2
Check your local healthcare provider if they offer the vaccine. As vaccine distribution gets faster, your health provider may have doses available. You can call your primary care doctor or your insurance provider to see how to make an appointment if you’re eligible. Remember: the vaccine is free for everyone, so they cannot charge you for an appointment.^{[4]
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3
Get an appointment with a pharmacy chain if they offer the vaccine. Large chains like CVS, Walgreens, Sam’s Club, and Hy-Vee are starting to take a limited number of appointments for vaccines. You can check their website to see if they’re distributing vaccines in your area. If they are, make an appointment online to get vaccinated.^{[5]
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Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
How do I improve my chances of getting an appointment?

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Sign up for alerts from your local government. Your city, county, or state may have alerts set up to notify you about new websites and vaccine openings. You can find alerts by searching “COVID vaccine alerts” + your area.^{[6]
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2
Start checking websites early in the morning. Most distributors upload new appointments at 7 or 8 AM. To get an appointment, you’ll need to hop online early, so don’t wait. Thousands of other people will be logging on at the same time, so you may not get an appointment on your first try.^{[7]
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3
Type quickly. Your appointment isn’t confirmed until you submit your information. For the best shot at getting an appointment, use your typing skills to fill out all your info as fast as you can. The quicker you type, the better chance you have.^{[8]
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Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
What if I need help signing up for an appointment?

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Ask a friend or family member for help. Someone who’s better at technology might be able to help you make an appointment. Reach out to your siblings, your children, your grandchildren, or a tech-savvy friend to check websites and enter your information in.^{[9]
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2
Consult your local library. Most libraries have a help desk that you can visit for assistance. If you don’t have anyone nearby to help you out, reach out to a librarian. They can point you in the right direction and start the process for getting an appointment.^{[10]
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Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
What are the 3 COVID vaccines?

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The Moderna, the Pfizer, and the Johnson & Johnson. The Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines require 2 shots, and they both use mRNA to defend against COVID-19. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires 1 shot, and it uses a small piece of a coronavirus (but not COVID-19 itself) to protect against COVID-19. All of them are effective against the spread of COVID-19, and all 3 of them have been approved for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

Warnings

Always double check that the website you’re using is a legitimate government or healthcare provider by checking the about page and URL. Vaccine scams are on the rise, and some are out to use your personal information to steal your identity.^{[13]
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