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?
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 preexisting 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.
School, child care staff: Added last week by the Texas Department of State Health Services, or DSHS. Applies to 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.
In addition, 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 now 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 DSHS 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 county-sponsored COVID-19 vaccination site. Check VIAinfo.net for the latest service updates.
Here’s where some major providers stand now:
City: The Metropolitan Health District has run out of appointments for its current batch of first doses for mass vaccinations at the Alamodome. Second doses are being given by appointment. New shipments of the vaccine are expected this week. Once more vaccines are delivered to the Alamodome, a link to register for an appointment will be posted at covid19.sanantonio.gov/vaccine. More information is at bit.ly/35E0u7y.
University Health: Registration is ongoing, with notification weekly if enough doses are available to confirm appointments. Updates will be on the system’s Go Mobile app and its newsletter, available at HealthFocusSA.net .Orgoto wecandoitsa.com or call 210-644-1960 for information.
WellMed: The phone hotline to get a first-dose vaccine appointment is again open at 833968-1745, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until all 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 walk-ins. Visit wellmedhealthcare.com/vaccine or WellMed’s Facebook page for the latest 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/Vaccine-Waitlist. 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.
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: Has an appointment system for some clinics and outpatient care sites. Use the online chat function found at vaccinate.christushealth.org to be screened for eligibility. If the chat function does not appear, no appointments are available.
CommuniCare Health Centers: Will contact current patients who are eligible to schedule appointments while supply lasts.
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 Medical Center: Brooke Army Medical Center has expanded vaccinations to eligible 1B military personnel and all TRICARE beneficiaries 65 and older.
Those 65 and up can make appointments through www.tricareonline.com or by calling the Consult Appointment Management Office at 210-916-9900 or 800-443-2262, option 8, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Military and civilians in the 1B group can contact their military unit leadership to schedule an appointment at BAMC. Its vaccine site now is in Building 4110 at 2536 Garden Ave. Appointments are full at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center for TRICARE beneficiaries 65 and older. Changes in personnel eligibility can be found at www. jbsa.mil/ coronavirus. 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/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 eligible. The online medical portal is available as an app or at bit.ly/2N0UWgV.
CVS: Vaccines now are being offered at some San Antonio locations. 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.
H-E-B: Appointments at San Antonio stores are often fully booked, 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.
Walgreens: No appointments currently are available within 25 miles of San Antonio. Check availability at Walgreens.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. The eight Walmart pharmacies to receive doses so far are at 6703 W. Loop 1604 North, 8030 Bandera Road, 5555 De Zavala Road, 1603 Vance Jackson Road, 5626 Walzem Road, 2100 S.E. Loop 410, 8923 W. Military Drive and 3302
S.E. Military Drive. 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 will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday. A link will be available on the Comal County website, co.comal.tx.us, and social media accounts. Second doses will be administered Wednesday.
How much does it cost?
The vaccine is free, regardless of insurance status.
Do I have to show proof of eligibilty?
DSHS has not offered guidance on how providers should check for proof that a person qualifies for a shot. 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.
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 later in the spring. Any providers with extra doses can administer them to any willing person regardless of designation.