The COVID-19 vaccine is finally rolling out to select groups of people. However, figuring out where to get the vaccine can be a somewhat confusing and challenging problem for those who are eligible.
Google announced on The Keyword that it aims to make finding locations that offer the vaccine a bit easier by showing them on Google Maps and Search.
Google Maps and Search COVID-19 Vaccines
The vaccine is one of the most hopeful advancements since the global pandemic began, and now that more people can get the vaccine (with more to come in the future as the rollouts extend to other groups) that hope has only grown.
Google says it aims to help make finding a place to get the vaccine easier with an upcoming Google Maps and Search update.
In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that company plans to help the vaccine rollout by "providing more than $150 million to promote vaccine education and equitable distribution and making it easier to find locally relevant information, including when and where to get the vaccine."
Google is rolling out its expanded vaccine information panels on Search to more than 40 countries, and dozens of languages. More people will be able to find out the best way to get the vaccine. Additional regions will be made available in the coming week, so additional people will be able to access the critical information soon.
Additionally, Google is currently showing vaccine locations on Maps and Search in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The company also said that more states and countries would follow, so this is just the beginning of a larger rollout for Google's COVID-19 vaccine information initiative.
According to Google, "vaccines near me" has seen a search volume increase of five times since the start of 2021, and it appears that the company's latest initiative will help provide people with that information as quickly as possible.
Google's Other Vaccine Plans
Outside of the features coming to Maps and Search, Google is also offering $100 million in ad grants for the CDC Foundation, the World Health Organization, and nonprofits worldwide. The company also plans to invest $50 million in deals with public health agencies to provide underserved communities with vaccine-related content and information.
The company also said that it would make select Google facilities available as needed. To start with, Google is working with a company called One Medical and public health authorities to open sites in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Kirkland, and New York City. The company also intends to expand the program nationally over time.
