San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
When and where Texans can get the COVID-19 vaccine
Short supplies and erratic delivery are causing long waits for inoculations. We update this guide daily to give you what you need to know:
Who can get it now?
All adult Texans are eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
If it’s the Pfizer vaccine, those 16 or 17 years old with a preexisting condition also are eligible. Qualifying conditions include pregnancy, cancer, heart issues such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, solid organ transplant, obesity or severe obesity, sickle cell disease or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not yet authorized for use by those younger than 18.
Where can I get it?
You can make an appointment with a pharmacy, hospital, clinic or other provider but will face delays. The city offers text alerts about opportunities to get appointments with public providers — to sign up, text Vaccine or, for alerts in Spanish, Vacuna to 55000.
Providers are listed on a map on the Texas Department of
State Health Services COVID-19 vaccine information page at bit.ly/2Jvpru3. Scroll down to “How to Find Vaccine” for a list of locator tools. Call ahead to make sure a provider has doses available.
How can I get it?
VIA Metropolitan Transit offers free rides to or from an appointment at a city- or countysponsored COVID-19 vaccination site. Check VIAinfo.net for the latest service updates.
How do I get it?
Here’s where some major providers stand now in taking appointments and ditstributing doses:
City: All appointments that were offered online for vaccines at the Alamodome have been booked through May 1. Check covid19.sanantonio .gov/Services/Vaccination-forCOVID-19 for any openings that could arise because of cancellations. Appointments are still available to residents without internet access by calling 311, option 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday. Seniors 80 and older can show up in the afternoons without an appointment. More information is at bit.ly/35E0u7y.
University Health: Seniors 80 and older can show up without appointments at the health system’s vaccine clinic at Wonderland of the Americas mall, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They must show identification to get vaccinated. All other adults must have appointments and can check for availability at wecandoitsa.com. New appointments also are announced through the system’s Go Mobile app, while updates are given in its newsletter at HealthfocusSA.net. Or call 210-644-1960 for information. Appointments are confirmed weekly based on available doses.
WellMed: The phone hotline, 833-968-1745, will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until appointments are filled. Firstdose appointments are available for those 18 and older. The shots are given at the Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center and the Treviño López Senior OneStop Center. Appointments required, no walk-ins. Visit wellmedhealthcare.com/vac cine or WellMed’s Facebook page for updates.
Schertz: The city of Schertz is a registered COVID-19 vaccine provider. If the city’s waiting list for appointments is open, you can sign up at schertz.com/2027/VaccineWaitlist. You do not have to be a Schertz resident. Go to Schertz.com/Alerts to get CivicReady alerts — that tool will send notifications when the wait list reopens.
CentroMed: Register for an appointment at centromed sa.com/cv19vax/.
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: Has an appointment system; vaccines have been dispensed only at a couple of its New Braunfels locations. An online chat function at vacci nate.christushealth.org screens for eligibility — if it does not appear, no appointments are available.
CommuniCare Health Centers: Will contact current eligible patients to schedule appointments as supply allows.
Methodist Healthcare: Vaccinating its employees, providers and transplant patients, along with health care workers in the community. For information, call 210-575-0580 or visit exne.ws/sahealth.
San Antonio Military Health System: Brooke Army Medical Center will announce appointments for upcoming weeks every Tuesday evening on its Facebook page. BAMC and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center are giving vaccines only to beneficiaries 65 and older, high-risk beneficiaries 16 to 64 years old, and military and civilian personnel working in the Defense Department’s health care services, national security or front-line essential personnel positions. This differs from Texas’ guidelines on vaccine eligibility because the Department of Defense has unique considerations for its population. Beneficiaries fitting this criteria may check www.tricareonline.com anytime to look for open appointments because of cancellations or call the Consult Appointment Management Office at 210-9169900 or 800-443-2262, option 8, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Updates at bamc.tri care.mil and through social media and secure messaging.
South Texas Veterans
Health Care System: Giving priority to enrolled veterans of all ages but offering vaccinations to veterans, caregivers, spouses and CHAMPVA beneficiaries starting April 10. By appointment only. Enrolled veterans are being contacted through VA’s VeText appointment system, which requires recipients to confirm their appointments. Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at the VA can visit www.va.gov/health-care/ covid-19-vaccine/.
UT Health San Antonio: Register and check availability of first-dose vaccine appointments at schedule.utmed icinesa.com.
CVS: Vaccines are offered at pharmacies in San Antonio, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, Cibolo, Converse, Fair Oaks Ranch, Schertz, Selma, Universal City and New Braunfels. Check availability at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy mobile app; registration is required. Those without online access can call CVS customer service at 800-746-7287. No walk-ins.
H-E-B: Check availability at vaccine.heb.com. Customers due for second doses will be contacted directly.
Walgreens: Check availability at Walgreens.com/Sched uleVaccine. No walk-ins accepted. Also has been vaccinating residents and staff of long-term care facilities. Check exne.ws/wal for updates.
Walmart, Sam’s Club: Vaccines are being offered at nine Walmart stores in San Antonio, one in Universal City and one in Cibolo. Check for availability and schedule appointments online at walmart.com/cp/1228302 and at samsclub.com/pharmacy. These locations in San Antonio have received doses so far: 6703 W. Loop 1604 North, 8030 Bandera Road, 5555 De Zavala Road, 1603 Vance Jackson Road, 5626 Walzem Road, 2100 SE Loop 410, 8923 W. Military Drive, 3302 SE Military Drive and 4096 N. Foster Road. The Walmarts at 510 Kitty Hawk Road in Universal City and 602 Cibolo Valley Drive in Cibolo also have received vaccines.
Comal County: The county’s vaccine standby list is open. A link is on its website, co.co mal.tx.us, and its social media sites. Those without computer access can call 830-620-5575. The county uses the Moderna vaccine, which is for adults 18 and older..
How much does it cost? The vaccine is free, regardless of insurance status