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On Thursday, California opened COVID-19 vaccinations for 50-year-olds and older. Hundreds of newly qualified people across the Golden State have jumped online in search of appointments.
We have heard from many readers who tried to get appointments yesterday, as well as from readers who have been eligible for weeks and do not yet have a lock available.
“Trying to get a COVID vaccination as a 64-year-old essential worker with a cancer history and finding nothing within 30 miles of the Bay after trying it for three weeks daily is the most frustrating experience of my life. , “Jo Sellers wrote in an email. “Easier to find a unicorn or plutonium!”
People are queuing up at the Mass Vaccination Center at the Francisco Convention Center in San Francisco, which opened on February 5, 2021 in San Francisco, California, for health care workers and people over 65.
Amy Osborne / AFP via Getty ImagesWe have also heard from many readers who have found appointments successful. Here we share some of their stories in the hope that their experiences can provide tips for others navigating through a confusing and overwhelming system.
Answers were in some cases summarized and edited for clarity.
Here’s how SFGATE readers found vaccine appointments
“I tried every hour from about 21:00 until midnight. Then at 05:00 and 07:00 At 09:00 I came in through MyTurn. [this is the state’s main appointment-booking system] and they had at least 15 time slots to choose from on Friday. It’s like Ticketmaster. They just release a few more each day, and you just have to keep pushing the buttons. ‘- D. Karlsson
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“The right time to look at the vaccine appointments is 12 midnight to 3 o’clock. I was able to help my friend find an appointment at CVS only now at 12:30. And a few days ago [at 2 a.m], I was able to help another friend find an appointment at Safeway. This was my first attempt. Nextdoor was also helpful – neighbors shared tips on how to get the vaccine appointments. Tonight I could not find any vaccines for my friend, and I monitored them [the] CVS, Rite Aid and Safeway sites. And finally, at 12:30, the appointments took place on the CVS website: I saw three places suddenly open with appointments. ‘- Amy Kona
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“I signed up on the various websites that let you know when vaccines are available. One of them was Sonoma Valley Hospitals. They sent a notice Monday that there are appointments available Tuesday through Wednesday for the age group over 65. week, along with a statement that there would be appointments available this Thursday and Friday for the updated age group of over 50. I started checking their website every hour or so to see if registration was available.On 31 March 17:00 made their registration available, so I immediately stopped and registered everything I did, I got the email from them around 17:40 to say that the registration is open, but I already have registered. ‘—Tom Waller, Sonoma
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“I checked in at Sutter Health around 5am on Thursday and started searching in Sutter, all places in California. Appointments in Sacramento appear (April 8) with quite a few time slots and take a morning appointment. I was planning to Sacramento. But then I later tried UCSF Health for an appointment. I hit the lottery! An available time slot arrived and I grabbed it. So it’s worth the vaccines every hour or even more often. to check. “—Christopher Wong, San Francisco
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“I was able to book a vaccination appointment for myself and my husband today. From about 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm, I constantly refreshed the Rite Aid site and finally found two appointments, both near our home. One is scheduled in San Rafael. and one in Corte Madera. ‘—Jeanne Lavin, Kentfield
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One SFGATE reader could not find appointments at his provider, pharmacies and MyTurn. Then he discovered the website vaccinespotter.org, which tries to track all available appointments around the world.
“An appointment in San Mateo – I live in Milpitas – appeared at a Rite-Aide pharmacy. But when I clicked on their website, they let me choose any Rite-Aide location and I got an appointment for 7 April, not far from where I live. ‘—Joel Ransom
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“At 9:20 a.m. this morning, April 1, I was able to use MyTurn to secure two appointments for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at the Oakland Coliseum for tomorrow afternoon. The times kept disappearing as I clicked, but I kept clicking and it finally I It was just a happy timing. (Our ages are 52 and 54.) I entered Oakland as my place. ‘—Joanne Miller