New Orleans partners with ride-share company Uber to provide 20,000 free or discounted rides to various vaccination sites across the city.
Starting Wednesday, residents who need transportation assistance to and from the Convention Center, LCMC Health, or New Orleans Health Department vaccine sites will be able to access Uber credits for free or discounted rides when registering for an appointment.
Residents can use the Uber app or call the city’s 3-1-1 service to schedule a vaccination appointment and to book a ride if needed.
“The call taker will give you instructions on how to use a specific code in the Uber app to get your free ride,” said New Orleans Communication District Director, Tyrell Morris.
Morris says in order for the ride-share code to work the ride must originate from inside Orleans Parish and the final destination must be one of the pre-approved vaccination locations inside the city.
City officials say Uber’s ride donation will help remove transportation barriers that could potentially prevent residents from accessing the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.
The city also offers additional ways residents can get a ride to a vaccination site.
The RTA will continue to provide free shuttle service to the Convention Center Hall J, departing every 15 minutes from Duncan Plaza, every 45 minutes from the West Bank RTA Park and Ride, and every 45 minutes from the New Orleans East Walmart. Residents interested in utilizing the shuttle must pay their regular fare to the designated pickup points. All RTA shuttle buses will be marked as “Special/Convention Center.”
Here are ways to book a vaccination appointment:
Convention Center appointments or other LCMC Health vaccine sites by calling 504-290-5200 or by going to lcmchealth.org/vaccine.
New Orleans Health Department community vaccine sites by calling 3-1-1 or 504-658-2299, or by going to ready.nola.gov/getvaccine.