HOUSTON — This week, both the City of Houston and Harris County opened up new options for those who still need to get vaccinated for the coronavirus.
Thousands of new appointments are available, and at some locations (like NRG Park) appointments are no longer required.
Note: the video in this story is from an April 17th report — "COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy could be the biggest obstacle to getting back to normal"
Anyone age 16 or older can now get a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at NRG Park with or without an appointment, Harris County announced.
Where to go & how to sign up
How to walk up/drive up: Residents walking in or driving up into NRG Park without an appointment should enter via Gate 16A off of Main Street (NRG Park Yellow Lot, Gate 16 located at 9036 S. Main Street). Staff working the site are ready to receive and assist residents when they arrive.
New hours: They are also adjusting hours to help those who can only come in the evening. The moves come as more vaccine doses become available.
"Effective immediately, anyone in Harris County or the greater Houston area will be able to receive the COVID-19 two-dose Pfizer vaccine at the FEMA Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at NRG Park with or without an appointment. Additionally, starting Wednesday, April 21, the CVC hours of operations are changing from 8 am to 5 pm to 12pm – 9pm to make it easier and more convenient for residents to get the vaccine."
Registrations preferred: County officials say it is still preferred for people to register so they can be guaranteed a shot. But people can now show up, driving or on foot, at the NRG Park CVC to get vaccinated.
How to sign up or get help: Residents can visit ReadyHarris.org, vacstrac.hctx.net or call the HCPH Vaccine hotline at 832-927-8787 for assistance. With the recent registration changes, residents who sign up for a vaccine from Harris County Public Health (HCPH) are now given appointment at all HCPH vaccination sites immediately after registering for a vaccine, while supplies last.
The county continues to prioritize vaccines for vulnerable communities by offering vaccines at mobile sites in hard-hit zip codes, conducting targeted outreach, offering transportation for those who cannot drive to an appointment on their own, and collaborating with community organizations to support vaccine distribution.
Note that the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is not being administered at any HCPH site at this time, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)’s recommendation to pause its use.
City of Houston offers new appointments for week of April 19
The Houston Health Department is offering 9,000+ COVID-19 vaccination appointment slots for people ages 18 an older.
This time around it's the Moderna vaccine that is available. The appointments are for first shots. As a reminder, you must register in advance and get a confirmation email or text message in response to verify your appointment location and time.
Getting vaccinated is free and does not require insurance.
Get the details and links below.
City of Houston vaccination opportunities and locations:
UPDATE (April 21) - The Houston Health Department is adding two additional targeted community vaccination clinics this week.
The clinics are located in the department's priority zip codes and offer free first doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with or without appointments. Each site opens on April 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
• Community Family Center Sports & Recreation Building, 7318 Ave F, 1,000 doses, and
• Greater St Matthew Baptist Church, 701 Jutland Rd., 700 doses.
The department will also host a targeted community vaccination clinic April 21-23 at Mission Milby Community Development Corporation, 2220 Broadway St. Appointments are available but walk ins are welcome from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or until the site reaches its daily capacity of approximately 165 doses.
Appointments remain available at the department's other vaccination sites, including Bayou City Event Center, Rodeo Reed Parking Lot, Delmar Stadium, and the department's four health centers.
People can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 to register for appointments. Registration assistance is available by phone by calling 832-393-4220 or 832-393-4301.
Houstonians can secure appointments for Pfizer vaccine at NRG Park at vacstrac.hctx.net or by calling 832-927-8787. The site accepts people without appointments daily and shifts hours to 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.