Houston Department of Health Receives 9,000 Additional Doses of Vaccine; new appointments booked in a few minutes

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

The new appointments were for the department’s new drive-thru vaccination site at Delmar Stadium, run by United Memorial Medical Center, which is expected to open on Monday.

Officials said those who show up without a confirmed appointment will be refused.

The department also plans to transfer 800 doses to other providers, vaccinate about 900 people refused Minute Maid Park last Saturday and fill existing appointments at the Bayou City Event Center, its health centers and multiservice centers.

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“We are happy to operate two mass vaccination sites next week, one north of the city and one south. These two sites make the vaccine more accessible to everyone, in addition to the health centers and one-stop shops of the health department, ”said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “As we receive more vaccines, we will expand our partnerships with federally qualified pharmacies and health centers to ensure the vaccine is available in the most vulnerable communities and will deploy mobile strike teams across the country. need.”

The ministry plans to announce new dating opportunities every week, depending on the offer.

People can learn about new dating opportunities via email, text, voice call or mobile app push notification by signing up for AlertHouston’s HoustonRecovers subscription at AlertHouston.org.

Appointments are based on vaccine availability and can be adjusted based on departmental supply.

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

People who have received their first dose of vaccine through the health service will be contacted to schedule their second dose before the recommended due date. Please check voicemail messages, text messages and emails frequently for more information.

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

The updated CDC guidelines state that “the second dose should be given as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, if the recommended interval cannot be met, the administration of the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can be scheduled up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. . If the second dose is given beyond these intervals, it is not necessary to restart the series. “

If contact details have changed since a person received their first dose from the Department of Health, please alert the COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220.

“We understand the anxiety over the second dose and appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to work together for the biggest mass vaccination effort ever,” said Stephen L. Williams, director of the department of health. “Rest assured that if you have been vaccinated by the Houston Department of Health, we will contact you in due time to schedule your second dose.”

Even once vaccinated, everyone still needs to take precautions like masking themselves, practicing social distancing, washing their hands and getting tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as people get vaccinated and we do. Let’s learn more about the immunity produced by vaccines.

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

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