Clever COVID booster shot trick: Text this number for free rides, easy appointments - CNET

COVID booster shots are available in 80,000 locations.

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For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

COVID booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer are free, quick and available in 80,000 locations across the US. Getting booster shots to the roughly 100 million eligible people who haven't received them already has also become a priority for President Joe Biden, who on Thursday announced a plan to rev up America's booster shot program.

The emergence of the omicron variant in the US -- California and Minnesota have confirmed cases so far -- is driving the urgent recommendations for all adults 18 and up to get booster shots six months after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, and two months after a single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

Vaccines against COVID-19 are proven to be highly effective at preventing severe cases that cause hospitalization and death. People who are not fully vaccinated are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die, according to a recent study. Vaccine protection against variants like delta is now shown to wane over time, prompting the urgency around booster shots as the omicron variant begins to spread. 

To help make it easier for people to get COVID boosters, a convenient and clever one-stop service brings you information on vaccine availability near you, an appointment and maybe even a free ride as quickly as you can type 11 numbers. Here's what to do. Here's also how you can get a free COVID-19 test kit soon.

Where to get your booster shot? Text for appointments near you

To find out where to get the Moderna or Pfizer booster, text your ZIP code to 438829. This number is part of a US government program tied to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines.gov.

I tried it out with the ZIP code for CNET's San Francisco office and almost immediately received a list of two Walgreens pharmacies in the area, including their full address, phone number and a short code link from Bit.ly to make an appointment online. (Bit.ly is a reputable and convenient platform for shortening long URLs -- I use it all the time.)

The response includes which vaccine brand is available at each location, and for which age group. For example, "Moderna (18+), Pfizer (5-11)" to indicate a pharmacy that has Moderna in stock for adults and Pfizer shots for kids under 12. Note that booster shots are currently approved for all adults, but at this point they have not been approved in kids -- though guidance could change over time.

Here's what happens when you text the US vaccine number.

Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

The text message also includes a link to Vaccines.gov for more information, a phone number to call if you need more help (800-232-0233) and a simple way to reply if you'd like to get COVID updates over text to your phone -- respond with "UPDATES".

What if I need a ride to get my booster shot?

If you need help getting to your booster appointment, you can respond to the text with a "Y" for yes, to indicate that you would like a ride. You'll receive another text message in under a second that offers free rides from Lyft and Uber, respectively, to vaccine appointments (there may be some caveats here that you'll want to look into).

The text includes a link to redeem your free Lyft ride (Lyft.com/vax) and a phone number to call Uber at: 855-921-0033.

How else can I find out when it's time to get a booster shot?

Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS will begin to actively contact people who received a full dose at their locations when it's time for a booster. In addition, 64 million people on Medicare and 34 million of older adult members of AARP will be contacted to get booster shots. Older adults are considered one of the most vulnerable populations.

Your vaccination card also has the date of your doses, if you'd like to consult it to determine when it's time for a booster. (Reminder: six months after the second Pfizer or Moderna dose, two months after Johnson & Johnson.) If you've lost your COVID vaccine card, here's what to do. And here are all the ways to store your COVID vaccine card information on your phone.

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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