Universal 16+ Vaccine Eligibility Begins April 15. How Can You Be Ready to Grab an Appointment?

Starting April 15, everyone ages 16 and older will be eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

But booking an appointment near you is easier said than done. Many people have already been struggling to find available slots, frustrated by a lack of appointments and an often confusing variety of online systems and sites.

If you're one of the many Californians eagerly awaiting April 15, here's how to make sure you're ready to jump when appointments become available. And if you've already gotten your COVID-19 vaccine, share these tips with someone who hasn't yet.

Be Proactive and Stay Vigilant

Can you pre-schedule your appointment before April 15? The answer is ... maybe. It depends on the provider through which you’re making your appointment. The California Department of Public Health said people ages 50 and older wouldn't be able to pre-schedule their appointments on the My Turn website ahead of their eligibility date of April 1 — but then My Turn opened up 50+ eligibility on March 31 anyway. So stay vigilant, and familiarize yourself with the process before "opening day."

Familiarize Yourself With the Systems

It's worth getting to know the various online systems of vaccine scheduling in advance, so that you're ready when your own eligibility comes around. Get familiar with My Turn and your own county's systems, and find out which pharmacies near you might be offering the vaccine when your time comes. If you have health insurance, make sure you have your insurance card on hand, as you might need to upload information from it when you make the appointment (although you don't need insurance to get the vaccine). Remember, starting April 15, you'll be one of many people out there trying to find an appointment, and you'll want to be as primed as you can to give yourself the best shot at getting one.

Make Sure You Aren't Already Eligible 

Your county or region may also have opened up 16+ eligibility early. For example, Contra Costa County opened up vaccine eligibility on March 30 to all people 16 and older who live or work in the county. (Appointments must be made through the Contra Costa Health Services site, not My Turn, and officials warn it "may take several days to get an appointment.")

Your county may also be opening up specific availability targeted at certain neighborhoods. Alameda County has expanded eligibility to people ages 16 and older who live (not work) in one of the following ZIP codes: 94601, 94603, 94605, 94606, 94607, 94621, 94541, 94544, 94545, 94577, 94578, 94580. More information about Alameda County eligibility here.

More widely, UC Davis Health has also opened up vaccine appointments to "anyone aged 16+," saying that the health center has "enough vaccine supply and appointments to expand eligibility before the state’s expansion on April 15." There's no residency requirement, but appointments are already scarce because of demand. Make an appointment as a current UC Davis Health patient, or make an appointment as a non-UC Davis Health patient.

Read the full list of strategies for finding a COVID-19 vaccine appointment starting April 15.

— Carly Severn