» What you need to know about the vaccine.
Now that more people are eligible to receive the inoculations, here’s what you need to know
Who can get it now?
Two groups are eligible. Group 1A: Includes health care workers in hospital settings working directly with COVID-19 positive or high-risk patients, long-term care staff, EMS providers, home health care workers and residents of long-term-care facilities.
Group 1B: Anyone 65 years and older, pregnant women and anyone over the age of 16 with a pre-existing condition. These include 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.
If I qualify, where can I get it?
People in group 1B will need to make an appointment with a pharmacy, hospital, clinic or other provider. Providers are listed on a map provided by the Department of State Health Services.
To check the map, go to the DSHS vaccine information page at bit.ly/2jvpru3 and click on “Vaccine Provider Locations” in the “More Information” box on the right-hand side.
Don’t assume a provider has doses of vaccine just because it’s listed on the map. Call ahead to make sure.
Most of Texas’ vaccine doses will be distributed next week to a handful of large pharmacies and hospitals, creating “hubs” that could vaccinate more than 100,000 people. The state will release the final list of large-scale providers later this week. Providers will post registration phone numbers and websites.
Here’s where some major providers stand now:
University Health System:
Offering vaccinations to group 1B, but all appointments already have been taken. When it receives more doses, it will announce additional time slots. Go to wecandoitsa.com for more information and to preregister once more appointments are available. Call 210-644-1960 for more information.
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: Has set up an appointment system for some clinics and outpatient care sites. Group 1B appointments are filled, but more may become available this week. Visit christushealth.org
and use the online chat function to sign up.
Brooke Army Medical Center: Focusing on inpatient and outpatient medical and support personnel. Its next phase will include high-risk military beneficiaries. Updates at bamc.tricare.mil and through social media.
Methodist Healthcare: Vaccinating people in group 1A only. Says it will vaccinate others once it finishes with that group. Call 833-582-1974 or visit exne.ws/ sa health for more information.
Metropolitan Health District: Only giving doses to home health care workers at this time.
UT Health San Antonio: Vaccinating UT Health patients only at this time. Patients will be notified through Mychart when they are eligible. The online medical portal is available as an app or at mychart.utmedicinesa.com.
H-E-B: Giving doses to health care workers only. It will set up a scheduling tool on its pharmacy page, heb.com/pharmacy, when it starts vaccinating group 1B.
CVS: Giving doses to residents and staff of long-term-care facilities. Once vaccines are more widely available, you will be able to schedule an appointment at
cvs.com.
Walgreens: Giving doses to residents and staff of long-termcare facilities. Not yet taking appointments for group 1B. Check exne.ws/wal for updates.
How much does the vaccine cost?
The vaccine is free, regardless of insurance status.
Do I have to show proof of age or underlying condition?
DSHS has not offered guidance on how providers should check for proof of age or qualifying conditions.
University Hospital has said it will take people at their word if they say they have underlying conditions.
Who is next, and when?
Texas’ Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel is considering criteria for later stages of vaccine distribution. It’s likely the general public won’t receive the vaccine until the spring.
Any providers with extra doses can administer them to any willing person regardless of their priority designation so that usable vaccine won’t sit on the shelves.