HOUSTON — Hours after launching the online portal for Houston's COVID-19 vaccination clinic, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that all appointments have been booked for the month of January.
This is due to the high demand and limited supply available, Turner said.
The Houston Health Department said it will announce additional vaccine opportunities once more becomes available.
The city is working to set up additional sites once more vaccines become available. Turner said he hopes the Houston Health Department will have a mega-site up and running by this Saturday.
The city of Houston launched its online registration for people in high-risk groups to be vaccinated for COVID-19 on Monday.
Through the website, those who are eligible can schedule an appointment.
Right now, the only people authorized for vaccination are residents in Phase 1A and 1B. 1A includes frontline healthcare workers and first responders who haven’t received the vaccine yet. Phase 1B is for people 65 and older and -- for the Moderna vaccine, which is what the city is using -- people ages 18 and older with at least one chronic medial condition putting them at risk for severe illness or death. (The Pfizer vaccine is for people 16 and up)
LINK: REGISTER HERE
Appointments can also be made through the health department's COVID-19 call center. That number is 832-393-4220. The call center is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with hours extended until 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People will get the time and location for the vaccination when they register.
Information about COVID-19 vaccines, including safety and efficacy, is available online on the COVID-19 Vaccine page of HoustonEmergency.org/covid19.
As more and more doses arrive in Houston, the city will ramp up vaccinations.
The city is using the Moderna vaccine.
Who is in Phase 1A and 1B in Texas?
Phase 1A includes frontline healthcare workers and first responders.
According to the DSHS, Texans in Phase 1B may begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine immediately. Phase 1B includes:
- People 65 years old and older
- People 16 years old and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, including 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