Get In Line For Covid Vaccine: Tips On Getting an Appointment In the DC Area

In Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, people aged 65 and over are among those eligible to receive the vaccine. However, with limited supply and high demand, getting one is difficult. You need to monitor the constantly changing information on vaccine providers and spend a lot of time on the phone or computer. Here are some guidelines:

PRE-REGISTER

Get your name on as many lists as possible for appointment alerts. These include, but are not limited to, John Hopkins affiliated hospitals, Medstar, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, the DC government, and the University of Maryland. You will receive an email from the vaccine provider when it’s your turn. Here are some of the many links:

• Maryland – https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine
• DC – https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/get-vaccinated
• Virginia – https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/

WORD OF MOUTH

Ask your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to keep you informed. Any tips on new vaccine sites or times of day new slots are added will help. Giant Food stores, Safeway, and Walgreens are among the pharmacies offering appointments.

KEEP ABREAST OF CHANGES

Rules keep changing. For example, in DC, only residents of certain zip codes can register on some days. Some vaccine providers insist you live in their county; others don’t.

COMPUTER SHY? GET HELP!

If you or your loved one is not comfortable with computers, get help. A Personal Assistant can secure a vaccine slot for you.

ASSESS COST/BENEFIT

If you have a busy job, grandkids to supervise, and a house to run can you realistically refresh vaccination sites all day, or wait on hold while you try to secure an appointment by phone? Hire a professional to do the waiting for you.

If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, contact Potomac Concierge for help. Our team of Personal Assistants and Professional Organizers share information and keep each other current on the latest information. We’ll do the research for your area and do the waiting for you.