Tips for Scheduling a COVID-19 Vaccine in Central PA

If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and have not had success getting one scheduled, the following information may be of help to you:

Pharmacy and Store Websites

https://covid-19schedulinglink.as.me/vaccine
This website is for some different independent pharmacies in places such as Carlisle, Jim Thorpe, etc.  You just have to keep checking to see if there are any appointments available.

https://giantfoodstores.com/pages/tgc-vaccines
This is the website for Giant.  There are many different Giant pharmacies offering the vaccine around the area.  They seem to put up appointments at various times but more often between 4:30 and 6:30 in the evening.

https://www.weismarkets.com/pharmacy-services
This is the website for Weis.  Again, there are many different stores in the area offering the vaccine.  They put up new appointments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I have had the best luck in the evening and early in the morning (between 6:00 and 7:00 AM).

https://vaccine-scheduler.pennstatehealth.org/s/ or call 1-844-774-8883.
Penn State Health Vaccination Registration and Scheduling site. You will be prompted to provide some basic information about your age, preexisting conditions and occupation. After you have completed your registration, you will receive an email asking you to log in to your Penn State Health Vaccination Registration and Scheduling account and create a password. If you are in the current phase designated by the DOH and appointments are available, you will be able to schedule your vaccination.

https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/apt-scheduler
This is the website for Rite Aid. Some people have been able to get appointments, some have had no luck here.

https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?WT.ac=cvs-storelocator-covid-vaccine-searchpilot#statetool
CVS – the pharmacy in Hummelstown says they expect a shipment of the vaccine this week but no date yet and no guarantees as to when they will actually get it

Walmart is expecting to be able to administer the vaccine, but no date as to when.  The pharmacist at the Walmart in Palmyra said he expects to receive the vaccine in two to three weeks. This is probably the same for other Walmart stores. He also said that they will only be giving 10 vaccines per day, so you can see that the supplies are very limited and that is why it is so hard to get an appointment. He also said that the website for scheduling is not yet set up so he will be making appointments by phone, but he is not sure when he will start doing that. You may want to just keep calling to see if you can get on the list.

You can also sign up with your medical provider and/or Wellspan. These places are not currently making appointments for the vaccine, but you can sign up to be notified when they are taking appointments. 

Basic tips

Try various locations (and zip codes if asked) for locating a place for the vaccine. The more flexible you can be with the location, the better the chance of getting an appointment

Have your personal information easily available so you can enter it quickly if you get an appointment. Some sites require insurance information and others do not. They usually want name, address, phone number, email address, birthdate.   You have a limited amount of time once you actually get an appointment to enter your information and confirm the appointment.

Keep the pages open on your phone or computer and just keep checking back.  It takes dogged persistence, a lot of time, and a good deal of luck!

Once you actually get the first vaccine, you will be scheduled for an appointment for the second one so you do not have to go through the scheduling process again. If you want a different location it does not hurt to ask. Be sure to keep the second appointment as you will not get maximum benefit from the vaccine from just the first dose.

If there are two of you and you only get one appointment, when you go for the appointment, ask if the second person can also get vaccinated. Sometimes they have enough vaccine that they will do it. It does not hurt to ask!