Pa. Department of Health moves to new federally run vaccine locator map

Pennsylvania has revamped the map used to help residents locate covid-19 vaccine providers, moving to a federally run search tool that will let users narrow their search to a specific brand of vaccine, officials said Friday.

It is another move in the state’s push to get 70% of adults vaccinated.

“Our goal is to make it quick and easy for people to get vaccinated and to help overcome any hesitancy,” said Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam. “We know that some people may be looking for a certain brand of vaccine or want to know which locations have vaccine in stock.”

Beam said vaccines.gov, called Vaccine Finder, will replace the current map and search tools on the Department of Health website. Vaccine Finder was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Denise Johnson, Acting Physician General, said the department hopes they can combat hesitancy by giving people more information and more control over the decision.

“We recognize that it is critical for us to meet people where they are and ensure getting vaccinated is a quick process,” Johnson said, noting that state officials continue to work with those that people trust – community leaders and influences, doctors and others.

The move to Vaccine Finder also means the map works with Apple Maps on iPhones and other Apple products. In the Apple Maps search bar, users can select “Covid-19 vaccines” in the “Find Nearby” menu or just by asking Siri, “Where can I get a covid vaccination?”

Officials said Google Maps and Facebook also use vaccines.gov as the source of information displayed when people search for a place to get vaccinated.

Lastly, residents can text their zip code to GETVAX (438-829) for English instructions on three nearby vaccination sites and phone numbers. For Spanish instructions, users can text their zip code to VACUNA (822-862).

The push for more vaccinations comes a few weeks before state officials plan to lift almost all mitigation measures that remain in place in Pennsylvania. The state’s mask mandate will remain in place, Gov. Tom Wolf said earlier this week, until 70% of adults in Pennsylvania are vaccinated.