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.

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

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 has announced the receipt of another 9,000 doses that will be given out the week of January 18, 2021 at the Alamodome with in-person and drive-thru options available. Appointments are required and can be made at covid19.sanantonio.gov/vaccine or by calling 311 or 210-207-6000, select option 8. A total of 2,000 appointments will be available daily. If you are unable to schedule one of 2,000 today, another 2,000 will be available tomorrow and so on until the slots are filled.
• WellMed has also announced the receipt of 9,000 additional doses that are being administered the week of January 18, 2021 at two locations on the city’s south and west sides. Appointments are required and can by made by calling 833-968-1745. Phone lines will be open starting Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 8am-8pm.
• Hill Country Memorial Hospital: Hill Country Memorial in Fredericksburg, Texas is currently taking appointments for those in Phase 1A & 1B. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 830-990-6648 or online at HillCountryCovid.care.

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 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and may also protect those people living and working with you.
• 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.

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

For more information, Dr. Lukena Karkhanis answers your most common questions during a recent Facebook LIVE event.