Americans who type their ZIP code into Vaccines.gov to find a flu shot this fall are getting an error message instead of a list of clinics. The federal locator returns "Please enter a valid 5-digit ZIP Code" even when a valid code is entered, according to testing by TODAY reporters in several states as of Sept. 30.
The timing matters for households. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV shots are available now, and federal guidance points to September and October as the best window for most flu vaccinations. The broken tool does not mean vaccines are scarce. It means families, caregivers, and older adults need a different route to find them.
