San Antonio Express-News

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:

- EXPRESS-NEWS STAFF Do I have to show proof of eligibilit­y? DSHS has not offered guidance on how providers should check for proof of qualifying for a shot. Most providers require an ID but many use an honor system rather than demand proof of underlying c

Who can get it now?

Starting Monday, all adult Texans will be eligible. Until then, priority goes to the following groups:

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.

Group 1C: Texans 50 to 64 years old.

School, child care staff:

Teachers, staff and bus drivers for pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and those who work for licensed child care providers, including center-based and family care providers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is requiring retail pharmacies to “set aside all currently unbooked vaccinatio­n slots” through March 31 for those in this category.

If I qualify, 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 also are listed on a map on the Texas Department of State Health Services vaccine informatio­n page at

bit.ly/2jvpru3. Scroll down to “Where to Get Vaccinated” and click on “Large Vaccinatio­n Hubs” or “Vaccine Availabili­ty Map.” 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. Check Viainfo.net for the latest service updates.

Here’s where some major providers stand now:

City: Starting 7 p.m. Thursday, the city will offer three weeks of new appointmen­ts at the Alamodome to Groups 1B and 1C. Check covid19.sananto nio.gov/services/vaccinatio­nfor-covid-19 for openings. Seniors or residents without internet access can seek appointmen­ts by calling 311, option 8. More informatio­n is at bit.ly/35e0u7y.

University Health: Beginning Thursday, seniors 80 and older can get priority appointmen­ts by submitting an online form at

wecandoits­a.com — someone will then call them to schedule it. Updates for all other adults are announced through the system’s Go Mobile app, which sends notificati­ons when new appointmen­ts open up, and its newsletter, available at Health focussa.net .Orgoto wecan doitsa.com or call 210-6441960 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. The shots are given at the Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center and the Treviño López Senior One-stop Center. Appointmen­ts required, no walkins. Visit wellmedhea­lth care.com/vaccine 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 appointmen­ts are booked this week. BAMC will announce appointmen­ts for upcoming weeks every Tuesday evening on its Facebook page. Beneficiar­ies may check www.tricare

online.com anytime to look for open appointmen­ts due to cancellati­ons or can call the Consult Appointmen­t Management Office at 210-916-9900 or 800443-2262, option 8, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Updates at bamc.tricare.mil and through social media.

South Texas Veterans Health Care System: The VA will call veterans to schedule vaccine appointmen­ts as supply allows. Updates will be posted at www.southtexas.va.gov or facebook.com/sanantonio VAMC.

UT Health San Antonio:

Scheduling anyone who falls in groups 1A, 1B and 1C. Register and check availabili­ty of first-dose vaccine appointmen­ts at schedule.utmed icinesa.com.

CVS: Vaccines offered at pharmacies in San Antonio, Balcones Heights, Cibolo, 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 800746-7287. No walk-ins. H-E-B: Check availabili­ty at vaccine.heb.com. Customers due for second doses will be contacted directly.

Walgreens: No appointmen­ts available within 25 miles of San Antonio for the next five days. Check availabili­ty at Wal greens.com/scheduleva­ccine.

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 eight 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.

Comal County: The county’s vaccine standby list has reopened. A link to register is posted on the Comal County website, co.comal.tx.us, and the county’s social media sites. Those without computer access or needing help can call 830620-5575. How much does it cost?

The vaccine is free, regardless of insurance status.

 ?? Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Getty Images ??
Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Getty Images

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