Having trouble booking a vaccine appointment online? Try the phone.

Making an appointment to get a vaccine has been a herculean task no matter where you live. To help seniors and the technologically-challenged, Maryland and Virginia have launched telephone hotlines to assist people with making appointments. Maryland’s hotline is designed for seniors, while Virginia’s hotline is open to all residents. Virginia also has a new website that allows residents to pre-register for vaccines at sites across the state

If you live in Maryland, you can use the new hotline to register for vaccines at the state’s mass vaccination centers only. Currently, two sites at Six Flags America and Baltimore Convention Center are accepting appointments, with four more expected to open shortly. To make an appointment or get information about vaccine sites near you, call 855-634-6829. The call center is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Courtesy of Governor Larry Hogan's office, Steve Kwak

To help residents in all categories get a vaccine, Virginia has created a website that allows people to pre-register for sites around the state. The state will migrate registrations from local health departments to the central site and residents can visit the site to confirm registration and get information about vaccines. People who have trouble registering on the web can call the state’s vaccine hotline at 877-829-4682. The hotline will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Earlier this month, the federal government announced a new program to send vaccines directly to CVS Pharmacy locations across the country. Residents who wish to get vaccines at CVS must continue to register for appointments through the CVS website. Before you sign up for an appointment, be sure to view the current vaccine eligibility requirements to make sure you are eligible to receive it in your area.

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