San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
WHEN AND WHERE YOU CAN GET THE COVID 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 or high-risk patients, long-term-care staff and residents, EMS providers, home health care workers.
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. Call ahead to verify doses are available.
VIA Metropolitan Transit offers free rides to or from an appointment at a city- or county-sponsored site.
Here’s where some major providers stand now:
City: The Alamodome is a mass vaccination site for both groups. Appointments required. Metro Health has received another 9,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and has begun booking new appointments. Appointments can be made by visiting covid19.sanantonio.gov/vaccine or by calling 311 and choosing option 8. The registration system stays open as new appointments become available due to cancellations. If you received your first dose from the city before noon Jan. 13, Metro Health will call to schedule the second dose. Those who miss the call can contact 311 and select option 8 or email COVID19@ sanantonio.gov. More information is at bit.ly/35E0u7y.
University Health System: All appointments for people in group 1B have been filled. Once more doses are in stock, a scheduling tool will be launched. Updates will be on its Go Mobile app and its newsletter, available at HealthFocusSA.net. Go to wecandoitsa.com or call 210644-1960 for information.
WellMed: Has received 9,000 more doses of the Moderna vaccine. Call 833-968-1745 to make an appointment, which are required. Calls will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily while slots are available at Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Activity Center, 517 S.W. Military Drive, and Alicia Treviño López Senior One-Stop Center, 8335 Culebra Road.
South Texas Veterans Health Care System: The VA is offering COVID-19 vaccines to enrolled veterans (but not family or caregivers). No appointment needed. Vaccines will be offered to enrolled veterans 65 and older on Saturday at two locations: Audie L. Murphy Memorial Hospital, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Frank M. Tejeda VA Outpatient Clinic, 5788 Eckhert Road, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Identification is required. Updated information will be at southtexas.va.gov or facebook.com/SanAntonioVAMC.
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: Has an appointment system. Appointments are filled. Visit christushealth.org/ coronavirus/vaccine-faq and use the online chat function to be screened for eligibility and check availability.
Brooke Army Medical Center: Focusing on inpatient and outpatient medical and support personnel. Updates can be found at bamc.tricare.mil and through social media.
Methodist Healthcare: Vaccinating its employees and providers; also has been offering the vaccine to several thousand health care workers in the community and inoculating solid organ transplant patients, as well as blood and marrow transplant patients. Will soon begin vaccinating eligible Methodist hospital patients. Call 833-582-1974 or visit exne.ws/sahealth for more information.
UT Health San Antonio: Currently vaccinating UT Health patients only. Patients will be notified through MyChart. The online medical portal is available as an app or at bit.ly/2N0UWgV.
H-E-B: Currently out of doses. Check heb.com/vaccine to access the scheduling tool when more is available. Those due for a second dose will be contacted.
CVS: Giving doses to residents and staff of long-term-care facilities. Once vaccines are more widely available, appointments will be at cvs.com.
Walgreens: Giving doses to residents and staff of long-termcare facilities. Check exne.ws/wal for updates.