With more than 50 unique vaccination plans across the United States, one’s access to the Covid-19 vaccine depends in large part on where one lives. In Wisconsin, mink farmers are being considered for the next phase of vaccine prioritization. In New Jersey, smokers can get priority access to the vaccine. In Colorado, journalists fall under the category of frontline workers.

This complex system has given rise to a new type of pandemic travel – dubbed “vaccine tourism” – in which people cross state or even country lines to get earlier access. Without standardized protocol, and because of the fractured American health system, tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people have gotten vaccines outside their home states.

“They are coming from Canada, Brazil, New York, Georgia, folks from Minneapolis have come here. Some friends of mine in St Petersburg [Florida] told me that they were in a vaccination line with people from Venezuela,” said Dr Jay Wolfson, a professor of public health at the University of South Florida.

The process of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania has many people frustrated at the lack of supply, lack of appointments, and slow speed at which it’s being rolled out. But how far are people going to get it?

"They call it‘ vaccine tourism ’. I know Florida has outlawed that and some other states have, ”said Gov. Tom Wolf during a news conference Thursday. "At this point, Pennsylvania doesn’t prohibit anybody from going to another state and getting the vaccine."

The director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department said his agency is controlling how the vaccine is distributed.

“We have some parameters with our vaccine programs and right now, we haven't seen anyone coming in, shopping around if you will, for a vaccine,” director Howard Gamble said. "There are some individuals who are in vacation homes in the state of West Virginia and vice-versa that are eligible."

Gamble said if that’s not you, it’s best to avoid driving across state lines to get the vaccine.

The state of Florida is also working to curb "vaccine tourism." Daniel Oshea is a resident of Butler, but spends most of his time in Florida. He said he’s eligible in that state for the vaccine.

"People want it to stop," Oshea said. “I’m 72 years old. I reside down here for six to seven months. I pay property tax. "

He said getting an appointment there has been difficult, and he is willing to travel back to Pennsylvania to get it.