Eligibility 

Anyone age 16+ who resides, works, and/or studies in New York is eligible. 

Registration

Onondaga County (the OnCenter downtown) –

• To schedule online: https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/1st-dose-screening-form/
• In general, appointments become available for only the next few days at a time. If there are no appointments available at a given time, try returning after a few hours.

NY State (the Fairgrounds) –

• To schedule online: Am I Eligible? https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
• To schedule by phone: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829)
• Appointments can be scheduled in the coming weeks as well as the next few days.
• Note: The Fairgrounds site is large, and to get vaccinated here requires a significant amount of walking and standing inside the Expo Center. However, wheelchair assistance is available in the reception area.

Walgreens (various locations) –

• To schedule an appointment online (https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule), scroll to the bottom of the page and click on schedule an appointment, then search by location and check eligibility.
• You can also schedule over the phone by calling the individual store.

Wegmans (various locations) –

• To schedule online: https://www.wegmans.com/covid-vaccine-registration/
• To schedule over the phone, call 1-800-207-6099, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Kinney Drug (various locations) –

• To schedule online https://kinneydrugs.com/locations/appointments/.
• To schedule by phone, call the individual store.

Vaccine Finder (a general resource to find vaccine locations nearby)

• https://vaccinefinder.org/– Search for vaccine availability by zip code and vaccine type; shows which providers have vaccines in stock and which are temporarily out of stock.

Notes:

• Pharmacies may vaccinate certain age groups based on their vaccine supply, so check on this before making an appointment.
• You don’t need to enter the insurance information in the online registration (just answer yes/no whether the person you are registering has insurance), since the person will give their insurance information at the vaccination site.
• The person being registered will receive confirmation by email, so be sure to enter an email account that is accessible.

For Help with Registration

Call 211: provides up-to-date information on vaccine eligibility and clinic locations; offers supports such as transportation referrals and help with frequently asked questions.

InterFaith Works of CNY Community Champions can make vaccine appointments and help coordinate transportation. To be put in touch with a Community Champion, contact Mairead Blatner at 315-449-3552 ext. 231 or mblatner@ifwcny.org.

Public libraries – Librarians can answer questions about registration by phone (Central Library: 315-435-1900. Phone numbers for all county libraries: https://www.onlib.org/), and libraries are also open by appointment for patrons to use computers and free wifi for vaccination registration.

Transportation

Centro Free Shuttles – Centro is now running free, hourly shuttles between the downtown hub and the NYS Fairgrounds for people getting COVID-19 vaccinations. The shuttle will run from 7am-8pm daily. The bus will leave the downtown hub on the hour and leave the Expo Center on the half hour.

Friends In Service Here (FISH) – volunteer drivers to bring seniors (and sometimes people with disabilities) living in suburban areas to medical appointments, drivers wait during the appointment and bring the client home at the end. Clients must be registered into the FISH system before their first ride, and this registration can be done by the dispatcher. This program is coordinated by Pat Campany, RSVP Director at CCOC, and she can be contacted at pcampany@ccooc.us with questions.

• For seniors living in Tully & Lafayette, contact dispatcher Barb Kohberger directly at 315-696-8203. This office may also be able to serve clients in Fabius and Pompey.
• For Mattydale & North Syracuse, there is one driver available – contact Pat to schedule.
• For Manlius, Minoa, and outer Dewitt – update coming soon from Pat.

Call-A-Bus – For people with disabilities, bus rates range from $2.00-$3.00 per ride. Available in the same area covered by Centro transit bus routes and extends beyond the area of each bus route by a 3/4 mile radius. Overview, including application:  https://www.centro.org/specialized-transit/call-a-bus

OSCAR (Onondaga Senior Call-A-Ride) – For seniors ages 60+, eligible for two round trips or four one-way trips per month for free. Seniors using the OSCAR program are not required to pay a fare to use the service. However, voluntary contributions are accepted and used to expand services. While OSCAR Senior Transportation suggested contributions range from $2.50 to $3.00 per trip, contributions in any amount are welcomed. Riders will not be denied service if unable or unwilling to contribute. Overview, including application: https://www.centro.org/specialized-transit/oscar

Outbound Transportation Services –  Provides transportation options for individuals with disabilities who are unable to leave their homes without assistance and cannot use existing transportation services. For more information and to sign up, call Adult and Long Term Care Services: 315-435-2815 (Ask for Outbound Transportation).

At the Vaccination Site

What to bring with you:

• Identification – a driver’s licence, passport, or other form of ID that verifies your date of birth and identification
• Insurance information, if you have it. (If you are not insured, don’t worry.) You will NOT be charged for vaccination – it’s free. The insurance information is for administrative use.

What side effects to expect: 

• A sore arm – this should go away within a day or two.
• Flu-like symptoms (low fever, aches, fatigue) – if these occur, they will go away within a few days. They DO NOT mean you are getting sick with COVID-19. These symptoms are much less serious than COVID-19 itself. This is your immune system learning to fight off the virus – it means the vaccine is working correctly.

What to wear: Dress so that it is easy for the vaccine provider to access your upper arm.

If you receive a vaccine that requires two doses, the provider will schedule your second dose at the appointment.

Be prepared to wait for 15 minutes after the appointment, to monitor for any side effects.

Information, Fact Sheets, and FAQs about the Vaccine

• COVID-19 vaccines fact sheet (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/vaccines/facts-covid-vaccines-english-508.pdf
• Myths and Facts about the COVID-19 vaccine (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
• Key Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html
• Informational and myth-busting videos from Walgreens: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp
• “Don’t Hesitate, Vaccinate” video campaign from Upstate Medical University, featuring local leaders and health professionals talking about the importance of the vaccine in English, Arabic, Spanish, Nepali, and Vietnamese: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1d-n1VroGV6OIDETBjzWnw/videos

Vaccine Fact Sheets & Quick Facts, available in multiple languages (NRC-RIM): https://nrcrim.org/vaccines/vaccine-central#Quick