San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has decided to expand its onsite COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic to allow passengers and the public to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. After initially setting up the clinic to get all airport workers vaccinated against the deadly virus, SFO issued a statement on Friday saying that they would open it up to everyone.SFO gettyThe statement says that both arriving and departing international and domestic passengers and the general public are invited to go online and book an appointment to receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. After receiving the first dose of the vaccine, you will be given a date and time three weeks (21 days) later to return to the clinic for your second dose.

When can I get vaccinated?

The SFO Vaccination Clinic will be open for three days starting from Tuesday, May 11, 2021:

  • Tuesday, May 11, 8:00am – 4:00pm
  • Wednesday, May 12, 8:00am – 4:00pm
  • Thursday, May 13, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Where is the SFO vaccination clinic located?

The COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at San Francisco International Airport is located in the Edwin M. Lee International Departures Hall, between Aisles 6 – 7. If you arrive at SFO by car, you are advised to park your vehicle in the International Garages A or G. Parking is free. Still, you will need to bring your parking ticket with you to the Vaccination Clinic to get it validated.

How to book an appointment

The SFO COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is a partnership between SFO and American supermarket/pharmacy chain Safeway and is available to anyone aged 16 and older.

Who can book an appointment?

  • General public
  • Departing and arriving passengers, both domestic and international
  • Airport workers, including taxi, limo, Uber, and Lyft drivers
SFO vaccinations
SFO and Safeway are offering people the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Photo: SFO

Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for people aged 16 and older. If the FDA approves the Pfizer vaccination for ages 12-15, this group will also be accepted.

About COVID-19

COVID-19 (coronavirus) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus that humans have not previously seen. Most people who become infected with the virus develop a mild to moderate respiratory illness that does not require hospitalization. Having said that, older adults and people with underlying health issues are at risk of a severe illness, leading to death.

Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 spreads between people in several different ways but is primarily transmitted when a person infected with the virus coughs or sneezes. COVID-19 can also live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours, making it important that you wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

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What are the benefits of being vaccinated?

There are many people out there who, for one reason or another, do not want to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Nonetheless, below is a list of the benefits of getting vaccinated:

  • Getting vaccinated will prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19
  • Being vaccinated will prevent you from spreading the virus to other people
  • By getting vaccinated, it will help stop the spread of the virus and help contribute to herd immunity
  • Vaccination will help stop the virus from mutating into what might be a variant that is more resistant to vaccines
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
We do not know yet how effective vaccines are against the new strain. Photo: Getty Images

If you live in the Bay area or pass through SFO on the vaccination dates and have not yet received your first dose of the vaccine, book an appointment and help us put this horrible pandemic in the review mirror.

If you have been or plan to get vaccinated at SFO, please tell us about the experience in the comments.