Can I Get the COVID Vaccine at Urgent Cares in New York City?
While it is possible to get vaccinated at urgent care facilities, most vaccines in New York are being administered at pharmacies, mass vaccination sites, and community health centers. The NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Finder shows all available appointments.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility in New York City
Effective on April 6th, 2021 all New Yorkers over the age of 16 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This was an increase in eligibility from the March 30th stipulation that everyone over the age of 30 was eligible to receive the vaccination. Throughout the distribution of the vaccine, other individuals have become eligible because of their underlying health conditions.
If you’re not sure whether or not you qualify then you should read our article on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in New York.
Urgent Care Facilities Giving the COVID-19 Vaccine
Most urgent care facilities in New York City are not currently administering the COVID-19 vaccine, as of April 5th. Most of the vaccine supply is being allocated to pharmacies, hospitals, and larger testing hubs in order to benefit the largest number of people and allow the urgent care centers to focus on dealing with patients who are ill.
Urgent care facilities that have been vaccinating were administering the vaccine by appointment only. You should not expect to walk into an urgent care without an appointment and get a vaccine, as walk ins at these care centers are reserved for those who are sick and need medical attention. The limited supply of the vaccine combined with the rules of who can get the vaccine at any given time requires appointments to be made, which is true of most non-urgent care centers as well.
The following locations were previously giving the COVID-19 vaccine but it is unclear if they will continue to vaccinate going forward:
- Essen Medical Associates - Exhausted supply but name can be put on a waiting list
- Centers Urgent Care - No current supply but a form can be filled out to be placed on the waitlist
- MiDoctor Urgent Care - Was vaccinating until March 29th. It is unclear if they will continue to vaccinate. More appointments will be added to the signup page if they do.
If you’re interested in going to these locations to receive the vaccination then you should first call to ask if they are still administering.
Where to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine in New York City
There are many other locations administering the COVID-19 vaccine in New York City. These include pharmacies, mass vaccination sites, community health centers/clinics, and hospitals. Let’s look at where you can go to find a location near you or to schedule your appointment today.
Pharmacies Offering the COVID-19 Vaccination
There are over 230 pharmacies in New York City that are offering the COVID-19 vaccine. This is going to be the best opportunity to schedule a vaccination appointment for most adults. You can click on the link to the pharmacy you prefer and see if they have any availability near you.
The pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccination in New York City include:
Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
There are currently five mass vaccination sites that are vaccinating eligible individuals who live or work in New York City. You can sign up for an appointment at one of the following locations using the Vax4NYC scheduler:
- Citi Field (currently prioritizing Queens residents)
- Bathgate Contract Postal Station
- Yankee Stadium
- Brooklyn Army Terminal
- Empire Outlets
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New York State Operated Vaccination Sites for COVID-19
The government for the state of New York has organized some testing sites in order to reach people that travel to common locations, such as state colleges, to increase the total number of vaccinated individuals. All New York State residents are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination at one of the NYS operated sites. You can check for availability at the 31 locations through the New York Covid-19 Vaccine website.
Community Health Centers and Clinics Administering COVID-19 Vaccinations
There are currently 85 community health centers/clinics set up in New York City that can administer the vaccination while supplies last. Appointments can be made on each clinic’s individual website. Some of the most commonly known clinics can be found below where you can click through to schedule an appointment.
- Stevenson Family Health Clinic
- Montefiore Clinics
- Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
- NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Hubs
- Bay Street Health Center
- Rambam Family Health
- Brightpoint Church Avenue
- Apicha Community Health Center
- Gotham Health
- Ryan Health
Primary Care Clinics Offering the COVID-19 Vaccination in New York City
While primary care clinics might be the first location many people might think of to get the vaccination, it is actually more typical for them to have less supply than the other options above. However, there are currently 4 primary care chains in New York City that we have confirmed who are administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some of these chains, such as AdvantageCare and NorthPort have multiple locations throughout the city. Locations and an opportunity to schedule an appointment can be found on the websites linked below.
- AdvantageCare Physicians
- NorthPort P.C. Medical Associates
- Endocrine Associates of West Village
- RendrCare: Primary Care Medicine Associates - call directly for an appointment
Hospital-Based Health Centers Offering COVID-19 Vaccinations
Hospitals are in a similar boat to primary care clinics in terms of supply of the vaccine, but many are offering the vaccinations in the area if it’s your best option. New York City currently has 18 hospital-based health centers that are giving the COVID-19 vaccine. Locations that may have available appointments and signup links are listed below.
- New York Presbyterian Hospital - The Armory
- Hospital for Special Surgery
- NYC Health+Hospitals
- Richmond University Medical Center
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How to Schedule Your Second Shot of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Some brands of the COVID-19 vaccine require more than one shot in order for you to be the most protected. You should make sure to clarify with the medical professional administering the vaccination about what type of vaccine you’re getting and whether or not you need a second dose of the vaccine.
If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you will only need one dose so no need to worry about scheduling a second appointment. However, if you received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, you will need to receive a second dose in order for the vaccine to be fully effective.
When you get your first dose, you should ask if your vaccination site is scheduling second dose appointments. Most vaccination sites will make you an appointment for your second dose. If your vaccination site will not schedule you for a second dose, you will need to manually find an appointment using any of the links above or the NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Finder.
It is important to remember that your second dose must be the same brand as your first dose. In other words, if your first dose was Moderna, your second dose must be Moderna as well. Make sure to look out for what type of vaccine is being offered when you make your second dose appointments, if you’re forced to do this yourself.
Bottom Line
While it’s possible to get a COVID-19 vaccination at an urgent care facility, you’ll have better luck finding an open slot at a local pharmacy. You can use the NYC vaccine finder to find the right location close to you. For all of your other urgent medical care needs, make sure you have coverage when you need it. Sign up for Mira today and get immediate access to coverage near you for illness or other immediate care needs.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, check out some of our other articles on the topic, listed below.
Jacqueline graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a B.A. in Global Public Health and is a current M.D. candidate at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Jacqueline has been working for Mira since April 2020 and is passionate about the intersection of public health and medical care.
