AllergySA continues to monitor the approval of COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States and the distribution/availability within our San Antonio community. We will continue to update our patients with information as we receive it.

 

NEW 4/13/21: The Texas Department of State Health Services is asking vaccine providers in Texas to pause all administration of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine following the CDC’s recommendation as it investigates six reported U.S. cases of a rare blood clot. For more information, see the DSHS Statement on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine here.

 

Texas Department of State Health Services announces that all Texas adults will be eligible to get the COVID-19 Vaccine beginning Monday, March 29.

16 and 17 year old’s are eligible. However, only Pfizer has been authorized to vaccinate this age group. If you are 16 or 17 years old, please find providers with Pfizer for vaccination.

 

Who Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has approved vaccinations for the following Phases:

• Phase 1A
  • Health Care Workers
  • Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities
• Phase 1B
  • People 65 years of age and older
  • People 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19, such as but not limited to:
    • Cancer
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
    • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
    • Solid organ transplantation
    • Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher)
    • Pregnancy
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• School and Child Care Personnel
• Phase 1C
  • People 50 to 64 years of age
• All Texas adults (16+) are eligible.
  • 18+ can be vaccinated with all three authorized vaccines
  • Only Pfizer has been authorized to vaccinate 16 and 17 year olds. Please find locations with the Pfizer vaccine if you are in this age group. 

For more details on the DSHS phases visit: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx

Where Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccination?

We continue to monitor vaccine locations throughout our community and will update this section as the information is received.

• MetroHealth/Alamodome: MetroHealth continues to offer 10,000 vaccine appointments per week dependent on supply. Appointments are required and can be made at covid19.sanantonio.gov/vaccine, by calling 311 (option 8) or 210-207-6000 (option 8).
• WellMed’s Vaccine Locations are currently making appointments by phone only. Call 833-968-1745 to schedule. Phone lines are open from 8am-8pm.
• University Health Vaccination Clinic (4522 Fredericksburg Road): Appointments are required and are dependent on vaccine supply. For more information and to scheduled visit wecandoitsa.com
• UT Health San Antonio has opened vaccine appointments to the general public. Appointments can be made by visiting: schedule.utmedicinesa.com
• H-E-B Pharmacies are continually opening appointment slots as they receive supply. For more information and to view availability visit vaccine.heb.com
• Walmart Pharmacies are administering vaccines at select locations. To view availability and to schedule visit walmart.com/covidvaccine
• CVS Pharmacies are administering vaccines at select locations. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting: cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

AllergySA clinics are currently not a vaccine location. For a current list of all Texas vaccine providers, visit the Texas Allocation Map.

Should I Get the COVID-19 Vaccination?

At this time we recommend everyone to get the vaccine, including those who have already recovered from COVID-19.

Some benefits include:

• It is effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and may also protect those people living and working with you.
  • Pfizer-BioNTech: 95% effective 7 days after fully vaccinated
  • Moderna: 94.1% effective 14 days after fully vaccinated
  • Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen: 66% effective 28 days after vaccination
• Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection but if you are infected, there is no way to know how it will affect you. Vaccination will be a safer way to build protection.
• Vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic.

What is Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Will It Work? 

On February 27, 2021, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is issued to be the third Emergency Use Authorization COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.

• Harmless adenovirus vector vaccine that helps our body develop antibodies and immune cells to fight the infection
• Available to ages of 18 years and older
• Single-shot vaccine has proven 66% effectiveness in fighting the pandemic

Visit our most recent blog post to learn everything you need to now about the new Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

 

We continue to monitor and learn more daily and will update our patients as more information becomes available.

For more information, watch Dr. Lukena Karkhanis answer your most common questions about the vaccine and vaccine reactions during these recent Facebook LIVE events.