Google launches flu shot locator

Advertising for flu shots at a clinic in New York. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Feel a fever coming on?

Now that flu season is in full swing, people are scrambling for a vaccine. And the rush is even more hectic because of the H1N1 scare.

To deal help with the high demand, Google Maps has launched a flu shot finder at google.com/flushot. It provides users with the locations of clinics that provide seasonal and H1N1 vaccines.

The site works like Google Maps. Enter a ZIP Code or the name of a city and the closest sites will pop up. Clinics offering H1N1 shots are blue. Those offering seasonal shots are red. And those providing both are half red and half blue.

Google worked in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Department of Health and Human Services on the project. The locater will eventually be linked on www.flu.gov and the American Lung Assn. website.

Be aware that many locations that are shown on the site are currently out of stock, Google said. So make sure you call ahead.

-- W.J. Hennigan

Comments

[CRYAN]

My husband has asthma and we can't find the H1N1 shot anywhere - "out of stock" What a joke to think that the government wants to run our healthcare - talk about rationing! I don’t even qualify for any vaccination at this time.

[DAVID]

Great idea by Google - Just a sidebar note on the long line issues - We had the same problems initially here in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,- waits up to 8 hours - but now Kudos to the Swine Flu Vaccination Center staff in all our centers - 1.3 million vaccinated so far. We went at 8:00 A.M. this morning to get 4 appointment coupons (myself, my wife, my 2 young daughters) for 4:00 P.M. today. the wait for the coupons was 30 minutes & when we returned for our 4:00 P.M. appointment nobody was allowed to enter the parking lot unless they had appointment coupons. Once we arrived the 4 step process took 35 minutes & everything went smoothly considering there was close to 300 people for the 3:30 - 4:00 appointments. The staff must have taken some serious steps to reorganize their verification, registeration & inoculation procedures to a huge positive step. As well each staff member was extremely courteous & patient. - a pretty good experience under the circumstances. Good Luck