Getting Started in VAMS – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Vaccine Administration Management System, or VAMS, is an easy-to-use, secure, online tool developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to manage COVID-19 vaccine administration from the time the vaccine arrives at a clinic until it is administered to a recipient.

States and jurisdictions across the United States are using different web-based applications for vaccination clinic management. Contact your health department to find out which vaccination management system they are using for vaccine enrollment and scheduling.

VAMS is a vaccine appointment scheduling system that your health department, employer, or provider may be using to manage vaccine appointments. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose if and when you need one.

1. Ask your employer or organization to register you as a user if they are using the VAMS tool. Only VAMS users can create a VAMS account and use VAMS to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
2. Check your inbox for a registration email from vams@cdc.gov.
   • Quick tip: If this email is not in your inbox, you may need to check your junk or spam mail folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact the employer or organization that registered you.
3. Click the registration link in the email. This will take you to the account creation page in VAMS.
   • NOTE: The registration link in your email is for your registration only and cannot be used to register anyone else. Please do not forward it to anyone as the link will not work for them.
4. Follow the directions to create and verify your password in the system.
5. Read the terms and conditions and check the box saying you agree.
6. Choose your notification preferences (Email or SMS) for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and verify your identity by entering your password and a unique number you receive through your preferred contact method.
   • NOTE: After five log-in attempt failures, you will be locked out of the system for one hour.

The registration link does not expire.

• Search your inbox for an email from vams@cdc.gov.
• If the email isn’t in your inbox, check your spam folder.
• If you still can’t find the email, contact your employer or supervisor.

Make sure you are using the link sent to you via email to start the process. If the link is not working, contact your employer or supervisor and they can send you a new registration email.

Make sure you are using the link sent to you via email to start the process. If the link is not working, contact your employer or supervisor and they can send you a new registration email.

Also make sure you are using a supported browser. VAMS works best in the Google Chrome web browser but can be accessed via any browser except Internet Explorer. VAMS also works on Android and iOS mobile devices.

• Search your email inbox for an email from vams@cdc.gov.
• Follow the registration link in this email to register your clinic staff account (this step creates your account).
• If the email isn’t in your inbox, check your junk or spam mail folders
• See the “Activate Your VAMS Account” section in your user manual for step-by-step help.

• You must activate your account in VAMS to use the system.
• Search your inbox for an email from vams@cdc.gov with a subject line of: “Please register to schedule an appointment.”
• If this email is not in your inbox, check your junk or spam mail folders. If you still cannot find the email, contact your organization coordinator.
• Click the registration link in the email. This will take you to the prescreening page.
  • NOTE: The registration link in the email you received is for your registration only—it cannot be used to register someone else. Please do not forward it to anyone because the link will not work for them.

Clinics, jurisdictions, and organizations can access VAMS at VAMS Non Recipient Login (cdc.gov). Vaccine recipients can access VAMS by entering their account information in the VAMS portal.

VAMS works best in the Google Chrome web browser but can be accessed via any browser except Internet Explorer. VAMS also works on Android and iOS mobile devices.

VAMS is web-based and works on computers, cell phones, and tablets. There is no VAMS smartphone app, but you can access the VAMS website from the internet browser on your cell phone or tablet. VAMS works best in the Google Chrome web browser but can be accessed via any browser except Internet Explorer.

No, VAMS does not integrate with Outlook.

VAMS allows for healthcare professionals to backdate vaccinations, allowing vaccination to continue even if VAMS is unavailable. Healthcare professionals will need to document the following information from recipients during vaccination to enter in VAMS once the system is available again.

Information requested during vaccination:

• Vaccine information, including the manufacturer, product, and the vial’s unit of use (UoU) barcode and lot number.
• Administration site (e.g., left deltoid).
• Vaccination outcome: successful or unsuccessful. If unsuccessful, was it possible to re-attempt vaccination?
• Whether wastage occurred.
  • NOTE: Log waste if it did occur.