Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key step toward keeping yourself and your family healthy.
Now that anyone age 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas, it is especially important to help the most vulnerable to COVID-19 to get vaccinated, in addition to getting vaccinated yourself. People age 65 and older are among those at the greatest risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Many people are helping their parents and grandparents find vaccination appointments. Seniors age 80 and older may not need an appointment to get vaccinated against COVID-19. DSHS is asking vaccine providers to prioritize anyone in that age group who arrives with or without an appointment. Providers may ask for valid ID to verify age. Call 2-1-1 to find local vaccine providers and learn what forms of ID are accepted.
To make it easier to schedule a vaccination, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has launched a new statewide tool—the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler—to help anyone age 16 or older schedule a vaccination in their area. COVID-19 vaccines are provided at no cost, even if you don’t have health insurance.
In addition to the Vaccine Scheduler website that’s available to anyone, the Vaccine Scheduler also has a toll-free number to assist those who are 65 and older, have a disability or face barriers to accessing technology. People in those groups can call (833) 832-7067 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, seven days a week, to sign up with the Vaccine Scheduler and get help making an appointment. Spanish language and other translators are available to help callers.
Once you’ve signed up, the Vaccine Scheduler will notify you either by email or text about local providers conducting vaccinations near you. People who do not use email or texting will need to provide the email of a close contact who can notify them of upcoming vaccine appointments.
After signing up with the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler, you can continue to look for available appointments though individual vaccine providers, as well. Many entities—including pharmacies, medical practices and some public health departments—are operating their own registration systems and will continue to do so. Visit https://dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine/ for links to to other vaccine scheduling tools and information about the vaccines.
Source: ERS News (April 2021)