The WhatsApp Vaccine Finder is part of the “National Month of Action” initiative to get 70% of Americans at least one shot by July 4.
The vaccine finder from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Mi Chat Sobre Vacunas Covid,” is an automated helpline that enables users in the U.S. to find their closest vaccine location, order a free car service to get there and see answers to frequently asked questions.
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To access the free service—built on the WhatsApp Business API by cloud communications company Twilio—people in the U.S. can save the number 1-833-636-1122 to their phone contacts and text the word “hola” in a WhatsApp message, or click here.
Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, wrote in a blog post:
“We’re honored to support the U.S. government’s effort to get more Americans vaccinated. People of all backgrounds rely on WhatsApp, but we know that WhatsApp plays a particularly important role with Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. This new Spanish-language vaccine finder from the CDC makes it easy for everyone to get information about the vaccine, find a nearby location to get it, and order a free ride to get there.”