*Editor’s note: This article was published in February 2021, when vaccines were not available to everyone. As of 2023, every Arkansas resident can access the COVID-19 vaccination and is encouraged to stay up to date with their vaccinations to protect the health of the community.
If you are age 65 or older in Arkansas, you are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
It is important to schedule your vaccination as soon as possible, even if vaccines are in low supply. To schedule, click here for a map of locations in Arkansas.
How do you schedule a vaccination?
Once you select a pharmacy, you can either call the location or schedule your appointment online, where available. The Arkansas Department of Health realizes there is not enough vaccine available for everyone at first, but they will get an additional supply each week and will work to make it available as quickly as possible.
What does it cost?
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 won’t cost you anything. All FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no additional cost during the public health emergency. The federal government requires health plans to cover the vaccine’s administrative costs. That means you shouldn’t have any out-of-pocket expenses.
Why should you get a COVID-19 vaccine?
The risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People with severe COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, may be placed on ventilators, and could die. The CDC states, “An analysis of more than 114,000 COVID-19 associated deaths during May – August 2020, found that 78% of the people who died were age 65 and older.”
Should you talk to your doctor before getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. If you have questions or concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you should call your primary care clinic. But remember they do not have the vaccine at this time. Calling to request the vaccine at your clinic ties up the phone lines needed for patients who need medical attention. The plan is to soon have several thousand vaccination providers available, including doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers.
What should I do after I have an appointment?
Continue to wear a mask in public. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands often – even after you receive the vaccine.
This article was updated on Feb. 23, 2021, to reflect the latest Arkansas Department of Health’s vaccination guidance.