Mayor Turner announces the opening of the city’s first COVID-19 vaccine site to the public

HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Friday that the Houston Department of Health is opening the first COVID-19 vaccine site to the public.

The free vaccination clinic will provide access to the general public with an increased risk of serious illness and death from coronavirus.

“We work effectively to vaccinate eligible front-line employees and vulnerable Houstonians,” Turner said. “The virus has decreased, especially among the elderly and black and brown communities. The vaccine is the best vaccine to prevent people from getting sick and has the potential to have serious consequences. “

Here’s how it will work:

To make an appointment to receive the Moderna vaccine, call the COVID-19 call center of the city’s health department at 832-393-4220, between 7:30 am and 4 pm starting Saturday.

Each person will be provided with a location and time of appointment to be vaccinated. The health department says it will examine people when they first enter the clinic area, direct them to a safe area to receive the vaccination and monitor them for any side effects for 15 minutes, according to a press release.

Who is eligible for the vaccine at the clinic?

The Phase 1B distribution plan in Texas will give priority to people aged 65 and over and people aged 16 and over who have at least one chronic condition, putting them at increased risk, according to a statement.

Medical conditions include the following: cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, solid organ transplantation, obesity and severe obesity, pregnancy, secreted cell harvest and type 2 diabetes.

The statement also said that frontline health workers would be eligible for vaccination as part of the Phase 1A distribution, which began in mid-December.

The Houston Department of Health will announce additional free vaccination opportunities as supply increases.

According to the statement, qualified individuals should contact their health care provider or use the online map of the Texas State Department of Health to find and call vaccine providers.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, click here.