COVID-19 Vaccine

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?

As of  Tuesday, November 2, 2021, everyone 5 years old and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.

Children 5-11 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine for children has the same ingredients as the adults and adolescent vaccines. It is, however, an age-appropriate dose of one-third of the adult and adolescent doses and smaller needles designed for children.

The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations. All vaccines are authorized for people 18 years old and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 12 years old and older.

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

Please call our offices at 210-616-0882 to schedule. 

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 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.
• University Health Vaccination Clinic (4522 Fredericksburg Road): 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

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.