Houston plans to offer self-scheduling for second dose of vaccine soon

HOUSTON People who are supposed to get their second dose of coronavirus vaccine will soon be able to plan the appointment themselves.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that the city’s health department has received nearly 42,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, of which nearly 34,000 have been administered. He said about 18,600 doses had been received, of which 2,300 had been administered. He said nearly 12,000 people are making appointments this week to get their second dose.

Turner said the Houston Department of Health is currently contacting people directly to plan their second dose. He said people should give the health department up to at least 48 hours before taking a second dose before calling the city’s call center to inquire.

Stephen Williams, director of the health department, said a link would be announced soon that would enable people to plan their second dose themselves.

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Dr. David Persse, the city’s chief medical officer, reminded people that the recommended 28 days is not a quick rule. However, he said the second dose is needed to get the full benefits of the vaccine.

“The purpose of the second dose is to boost the immunity within your system and to develop the B cells and the T memory cells that will provide you with long-term immunity,” Persse said.

Turner said the city is planning more community-based vaccination clinics to ensure a fair distribution of shots.

A partnership with Hope Clinic in Alief resulted in 500 people receiving their first dose in the first weekend, Turner said. He said another clinic is being planned soon somewhere in northeast Houston, but the details are still being finalized.

“It’s just getting closer for people to get there,” Turner said. “We need to realize that there are a lot of people who offer transportation challenges.”

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Williams said that while small-scale efforts are important for equitable distribution, mass vaccine clinics are still crucial to the overall distribution strategy.

“It’s good to see a large number of people, and we need to keep these sites informed, because if we do not vaccinate a large number of people, we will lose access to vaccination,” Williams said. “At the same time, we need to make sure that certain communities are not excluded from the system.”

The press said that the number of hospitalizations as well as the rate of positivity had leveled off, and that there could even be a slight decrease. He said people should still be vigilant and follow all coronavirus guidelines recommended by health officials: wash your hands, wear a mask, keep away from others and get tested.

You can watch the repeat of Turner’s news conference below: