City of San Antonio Creates Text Alert Notification for COVID-19 Vaccine Availability

SAINT ANTHONY – The City of San Antonio has partnered with some of Bexar County’s vaccine distribution sites to create a vaccine availability text alert system to keep the community informed of the release of COVID-19 vaccines.

Residents who want to receive updates on COVID-19 vaccination availability can now sign up to receive SMS notifications directly to their cell phones.

As more vendors and pharmacies receive vaccines from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the city wanted to create a tool that would alert the public when appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine were available.

The city of San Antonio will work with local vaccination sites open to the public and send an SMS notification to also reach those who do not have internet access. Metro Health community health workers, partner agencies, and 311 will continue to register residents who do not have cell phones or internet access.

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Residents who decide to register can send an SMS VACCINE at 55,000 or in spanish VACUNA to 55000 from Wednesday. By registering, residents will receive an SMS informing them of the locations where appointments are available. Activating this text alert system will not sign you up for a vaccine or add you to a waiting list. This is an additional method of informing the community when new appointments are available.

As of March 2020, the city of San Antonio had approximately 1,500 subscribers to its SMS alert program. Throughout the pandemic, the service has been promoted through other means, including nightly briefings with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. More than 40,000 subscribers now use the service to receive news and information about the city.

For more information, click here.

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