Google to open COVID-19 vaccination sites, helping users to find the spot

January 27, 2021: Google will open the vaccination sites and boost search results to provide information and help to find a vaccine for COVID-19.

CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, said in a blog post on Monday that the company will partner with a medical provider and public health authorities to open sites in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle.

Google will also expand information panels within search results, which will show local vaccine distribution information. Searches for “vaccines near me” have increased by five times compared to the year’s starting, says Pichai.

“Getting vaccines to billions of people won’t be easy, but it’s one of the most important problems we’ll solve in our lifetimes,” Pichai said.

Google will continue to help as much as it can, Pichai added.

Google Maps will also soon display locations that offer Covid-19 vaccinations, with further information available about its awareness and ways to avoid it.

The search results will include details regarding if an appointment is required if the vaccine is only available to specific groups, and if there’s a drive-thru.

Google will donate $150 million to help with vaccine education and reaching underserved communities, said Google.

According to a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation, confusion about the vaccine is uncontrolled, with 60% of Americans having no knowledge about when or where to get it.

 Availability of vaccines in the United States has also been problematic, with Joe Biden urging patience to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine in his first 100 days in office.