When and where Texans can get the COVID-19 vaccine
Short supplies and erratic delivery are causing long waits for inoculations. Here’s what you need to know:
Who can get it now?
People in these two groups are eligible.
Group 1A: Includes health care workers in hospital settings working directly with COVID-19 or high-risk patients, long-term care staff and residents, EMS providers and home health care workers.
Group 1B: A far larger group — anyone 65 or older, pregnant women and anyone 16 or older 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 can make an appointment with a pharmacy, hospital, clinic or other provider but will face delays. Providers are listed on a map on the Department of State Health Services vaccine information page at bit.ly/2jvpru3. Click on “Vaccine Provider Locations” in the “More Information” box on the right-hand side.
Call ahead to make sure a provider has doses of vaccine.
VIA Metropolitan Transit offers free rides to or from an appointment at a city- or countysponsored COVID-19 vaccination site such as the Alamodome. Check Viainfo.net for the latest service updates.
Here’s where some major providers stand now:
City: Vaccinations for today at the Alamodome have been rescheduled for Thursdayat the same times. Metro Health has assured that recent delays won’t compromise effectiveness since second doses of the Pfizer and
Moderna vaccines can be given up to six weeks after the first dose. No new appointments for first doses are currently available. More information is at
bit.ly/35e0u7y.
University Health: Those who had vaccinations scheduled for Wednesday at Wonderland of the Americas mall can show up today anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. All appointments originally set for Friday are rescheduled for today at the same scheduled times. If rescheduled patients can’t come at their exact appointment times, they will not be turned away as long as they show up on their newly scheduled day. Updates will be on the system’s Go Mobile app and its newsletter, available at Healthfocussa.net. Or go to wecandoitsa.com or call 210644-1960 for information.
Wellmed: Due to weather, vaccinations were canceled last week at the Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center and Alicia Treviño López Senior One-stop Center. Appointments were rescheduled for the same day, time and place this week, beginning today. No new appointments are yet available; the phone hotline is closed until more doses arrive. Visit the website or Wellmed’s Facebook page for the latest information.
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: Has an appointment system for some clinics and outpatient care sites. Use the online chat function at vaccinate.christushealth.org to be screened for eligibility. If the chat function does not appear, no appointments are available.
Communicare Health Centers:
Expects its first supply of vaccines this week, reserved for current patients who are eligible. Communicare will contact them to schedule appointments, starting with those at highest risk.
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 Medical System: Brooke Army Medical Center has expanded vaccinations to eligible 1B military personnel, but Wilford Hall has stopped making appointments to vaccinate civilian TRICARE beneficiaries 75 and older. Updates at and through social media.
The VA will call veterans to schedule vaccine appointments as supply allows. Updates will be posted at southtexas.va.gov or facebook.com/sanantoniovamc.
UT Health San Antonio: Currently vaccinating UT Health patients only. Current patients 65 and older may schedule their vaccines using Mychart. Other patients will be notified by phone or through Mychart when they are eligible. The online medical portal is available as an app or at bit.ly/2n0uwgv.
CVS: Vaccine is not yet being offered at San Antonio locations. Appointments available elsewhere in Texas are fully booked. Registration is required at Cvs.com or through the CVS Pharmacy mobile app. Those without online access can call CVS customer service at 800746-7287.
H-E-B: All appointments in San Antonio have been filled, but new time slots can be added at any time. Check availability at vaccine.heb.com. Customers due for second doses will be contacted directly once those doses are ready.
Walgreens: No appointments currently are available within 25 miles of San Antonio. Check availability at
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: Check for appointment availability at the Walmart website at
www.walmart.com/ cp/1228302 and Sam’s Club website at www.samsclub.com/pharmacy. The Walmart Supercenter at 5555 De Zavala Road is the only San Antonio location slated to receive doses so far.
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.
Some providers have created their own policies. H-E-B said patients can provide an ID or a prescription for their proof, while University Hospital has said it will take people at their word if they say they have underlying conditions.
EXPRESS-NEWS STAFF
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 designation.