If you’re having a hard time getting to a vaccination site, you’ll be glad to learn that you can get free Uber vaccine rides to and from your appointment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the best way to end masking, quarantining, and social distancing is for more people to obtain a COVID vaccination.
Uber has made this easier by offering free rides to people who need to get to their vaccination appointment.
In the guide below, you will learn all about free Uber vaccine rides, including where you can get one and any other alternatives that may help. Let’s get started!
Table Of Contents
- Is Uber Still Operating During COVID-19?
- What Are Uber Vaccine Rides?
- How Do Uber Vaccine Rides Work?
- Where Are Uber Vaccine Rides Available?
- Most Popular Locations for Uber Vaccine Rides
- How to Get a Free Uber Ride to Vaccine Locations
- Will I Get a Confirmation After Booking a Ride?
- Troubleshooting: Uber Vaccine Ride Not Working
- Alternative: Does Lyft Offer Free Vaccine Rides?
- Before You Go
Is Uber Still Operating During COVID-19?
First, it is vital to understand whether Uber vehicles are still operating during the COVID-19 pandemic and which locations have these automobiles driving passengers around.
While much fewer people used Uber during the height of the pandemic, no city completely removed this ridesharing platform.
Nonetheless, many Uber drivers have found this gig much less profitable and left the profession.
With many drivers leaving, users have experienced much longer wait times for an Uber ride.
For example, in Boston, the wait time is about 40 percent longer than in Philadelphia and 150 percent longer than in New York City.
Nonetheless, Uber is still operating its vehicles during the pandemic.
Drivers and riders are required to wear masks at all times.
Drivers must sanitize or wash their hands, wear a face covering, and air out their car after every ride.
What Are Uber Vaccine Rides?
Uber states on its website that it is ensuring up to 10 million free rides to those who need transportation to their COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
In fact, Uber is providing key information on the mobile app to help people find vaccination sites and book a free ride to get there.
To find more information, open up your Uber app.
You’ll need to first click on the Vaccine button and search for different locations offering vaccines using zip codes.
Uber has constituted a mask policy and provided free sanitizers to drivers to ensure that its passengers are safe.
Furthermore, the Uber website has links to help people learn which vaccines they are eligible for depending on their age and risk factors.
How Do Uber Vaccine Rides Work?
By working with the Biden administration, Uber announced that their company would provide free rides to all US residents going to a community health center or another vaccination site to get their shot.
Uber vaccine rides are available for up to $25 for each part of the trip.
In other words, a round-trip of $50 will be free for people who need to get to and from a vaccination site.
On the Uber app, you can click on ‘Vaccine’ and choose ‘Get your free ride’ anytime from 6 AM to 8 PM.
Next, you should put in the zip code of the vaccine appointment you signed up for.
Now, choose the provider location and what type of Uber ride you prefer.
The drivers receive full reimbursement via the Uber company, but feel free to leave a tip as well as an extra thank you.
Related: How do Uber pick ups work?
Where Are Uber Vaccine Rides Available?
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi mentioned in a statement how the company has partnered with Lyft, President Biden, and the White House team to offer free transportation to covid vaccination sites for Uber users across the United States.
As such, all Uber customers will have access to free Uber vaccine rides all around the country.
Initially, this program was only going to last until July 4, 2021.
However, the program has continued strong, with Uber donating up to 10 million free rides to vaccination sites to help people with transportation barriers.
Most Popular Locations for Uber Vaccine Rides
The most popular locations for Uber vaccine rides depend primarily on local promotions.
The places where local leaders emphasize and advertise the option of free Uber vaccine rides are where this form of transportation is most popular.
These locations include:
- Counties in Hawaii
- San Diego, California
- Counties in Massachusetts, including the city of Boston
- Los Angeles, California
- Columbus County in Georgia
According to the Ledger-Enquirer, West Central Health District’s director Dr. Beverley Townsend has worked to promote the free vaccine rides from Uber.
Since they are in Georgia, that promotion has pushed Georgia to become one of the most popular locations for Uber vaccine rides.
Along with getting a COVID-19 vaccination, Uber passengers can also get other medical treatments or diagnostics during the same visit to a community health center.
How to Get a Free Uber Ride to Vaccine Locations
First, you will need to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine at a nearby vaccination site.
Today, both CVS and Walgreens are offering free COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
You can get the first, second, or booster doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson shots.
With your vaccine appointment scheduled, you can go to the Uber app and click ‘Vaccine.’
Now, you can click on ‘Get Your Free Ride Now’ and type in the zip code of your vaccination site.
Choose your location and select ‘Request a Ride Now.’
Then, agree that you are getting a free Uber ride.
Once you’ve scheduled a ride to your vaccine location, go to the Vaccine page and choose the button ‘Ride From Your Vaccine Now’ to schedule a way back after you’ve gotten vaccinated.
Will I Get a Confirmation After Booking a Ride?
If you scheduled a free Uber ride to and from your vaccine appointment, you will get a scheduling confirmation text message.
No matter if you requested an immediate or scheduled trip, you will receive a confirmation text.
Flexible rides, however, only get a booking confirmation text message that includes an option to request the ride if it is a same-day ride.
You can also request a confirmation text message after booking a flexible ride on the Uber app.
Troubleshooting: Uber Vaccine Ride Not Working
There are multiple reasons why your Uber vaccine ride is not working, such as:
- No drivers available to pick you up or drop you off
- Unconfirmed contact information (email or phone)
- Your payment methods need updating
- Your promo code may have expired, or you were not eligible for the promo
If your Uber app is not working, try restarting the app and requesting a ride again.
You can also try restarting your smartphone. If that still doesn’t work to make the app function, you can reset the network settings or reinstall the Uber app altogether.
Alternative: Does Lyft Offer Free Vaccine Rides?
Lyft is also providing free or discounted rides for their passengers to visit a vaccination clinic.
Like Uber, Lyft recognized the transportation barriers that many people face when trying to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
With these combined efforts, Lyft and Uber have provided free or cheap rides to millions of passengers so far.
Before You Go
Perhaps you have been looking forward to getting your first shot but don’t have a car.
Or maybe you need a booster shot, but your vehicle recently broke down.
Either way, Uber has you covered.
Now that you’ve read through this guide, you should have a great idea about how to schedule a free Uber ride to and from your COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
All you need to do is use the Uber app and follow the steps previously mentioned to schedule your free Uber vaccine ride.
