COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and vaccine-related scams
Anyone aged six months and older is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To find a vaccination location near you, visit vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). New York City residents can use the NYC Vaccine Finder site at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available to most adults living in New York at no cost through their private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. If you have insurance, check with your insurer or the vaccine provider to ensure the provider is in your network.
For New Yorkers aged 18-64 who do not have insurance, or who are underinsured: The CDC has developed a Bridge Access Program for COVID vaccines and treatments. This program makes vaccines available through public health departments and retail pharmacies. Visit vaccines.gov to find providers that offer no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through this program. No-cost COVID-19 vaccines through this program should be available until December 31, 2024.
For children: COVID-19 vaccines are part of the federally funded Vaccines for Children program (VFC). Uninsured and other eligible children can get them for free. The vaccines are distributed to private physicians’ offices and public health clinics enrolled as VFC providers. Learn more about the VFC program in New York at the NYS Department of Health's website. You can also contact the program by phone at 1-800-543-7468 or email at nyvfc@health.ny.gov.
For all up-to-date information pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine in New York, please visit the New York State Department of Health. You can also contact the New York state COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
At the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG), we continue to warn New Yorkers to watch out for COVID-19 vaccine scams. Scammers may impersonate public health officials from organizations such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO). They may also offer to ship a COVID-19 vaccine directly to your home, provide special access to vaccines or clinical trials, or sell special cold-storage devices for vaccines.
Some tips to help you avoid vaccine-related scams
- Be wary of anyone calling or emailing you with offers of a vaccine. Do not give out your Social Security number, personal credit card, or bank account information. No one from a vaccine distributor, health care company, or private insurance company will ask for this information.
- No New Yorker should be charged any amount out of pocket — regardless of whether you have insurance.
- You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine or to get into a vaccine clinical trial.
- If you receive an email about a COVID-19 vaccine or clinical trial, check the sender’s email domain to make sure it matches the website of the organization sending the e-mail. e wary of clicking on any hyperlinks or providing any login or other personal information.
If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 vaccine scam or any unlawful activity, report the incident to OAG by filing a complaint online or calling 1-800-428-9071.