The Houston Department of Health receives an additional 9,000 doses of vaccine; new appointments booked in minutes

HOUSTON – The Houston Department of Health said 1,600 new appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine were reserved within five minutes on Friday afternoon. The department said it received another 9,000 doses of vaccine on Friday.

The new meetings were for the new vaccination site of the department at Delmar Stadium, operated by United Memorial Medical Center, which will open on Monday.

Officials said people who show up without confirmed meetings will be rejected.

The department also plans to transfer 800 doses to other providers, vaccinate about 900 people away from Minute Maid Park last Saturday and meet existing schedules at Bayou City Event Center, its health centers and multi-service centers.

FULL COVERAGE: Follow the latest vaccine news in our special section

“We are excited to operate two mass vaccination sites next week, one north of the city and one south. These two locations make the vaccine more accessible to all, complementing the health centers of the health department and the centers with more services “, said the mayor Sylvester Turner. As we receive more vaccines, we will expand partnerships with federally qualified pharmacies and health centers to ensure that the vaccine is available in the most vulnerable communities and implement mobile strike teams as needed.

The department intends to announce new scheduling opportunities on a weekly basis, based on the offer.

People can learn about new scheduling opportunities via email, texting, voice calling, or mobile app push notifications by signing up for AlertHouston’s HoustonRecovers subscription at AlertHouston.org.

Appointments are based on vaccine availability and can be adjusted according to the department’s offer.

As of January 21, the department has administered a total of 29,751 doses of vaccine.

People who have received the first dose of the vaccine through the health department will be contacted about scheduling the second dose before the recommended time. Please check voicemails, text messages and emails frequently for information.

The department currently offers the Moderna vaccine. The second dose of Moderna is recommended 28 days after the first dose.

An updated CDC guide states that “the second dose should be given as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, if it is not feasible to meet the recommended interval, the second Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be scheduled for administration up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. If the second dose is given beyond these intervals, there is no need to restart the series. ”

If contact information has changed since a person received the first dose from the Department of Health, please call COVID-19 at 832-393-4220.

“We understand the anxiety about the second dose and appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to work together to make the biggest mass vaccination effort ever,” said Stephen L. Williams, director of the Department of Health. “Please be assured that if you have been vaccinated by the Houston Department of Health, we will contact you within the appropriate timeframe to schedule your second dose.”

Even when vaccinated, everyone should still take precautions such as masking, social distancing, hand washing, and testing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as people get vaccinated and learn more about immunity. produced by vaccines.

“Please encourage your family and community to ‘get the best shot’ as the vaccine becomes more widely available,” Williams said.

Visit the HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 vaccination page for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations through the Houston Department of Health.