For the last two weeks, the city’s waitlist has been closed while the health department worked to schedule appointments for the tens of thousands who had already signed up. The city has typically been receiving 9,000 doses of the vaccine per week. When the waitlist first opened it received 70,000 calls, and there are currently 10,000 residents still awaiting appointments.
Residents can sign up by calling the Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4301 to leave a voicemail with their name and phone number.
The city also operates a waitlist for people with disabilities, which residents can sign up for by calling 832-394-0814.
For vaccine-related alerts, residents can sign up for notifications from www.lhoustonemergency.org/alerts.
The department’s vaccination sites are closed Feb. 15 and 16 due to inclement weather, a news release from the health department states. People with appointments on those days will be contacted to reschedule.
The city’s waitlist system is only open to those over the age of 65 and with disabilities; however, Harris County has an open waitlist. Although anyone can sign up for the county’s waitlist, the county health department is prioritizing vaccine appointments for vulnerable residents within the state’s priority categories.
Second doses
The Houston Health Department administers the Moderna vaccine, which includes a second dose recommended for 28 days after the first dose; however, it can be administered up to 42 days later. The department is in the process of scheduling over 4,000 second doses.
Those who received a first dose will receive a phone call from the department to schedule a second appointment. Residents should not call the department directly unless they are 48 hours away from the 28th day after their first dose and have not heard from the health department.
Anyone whose contact information changed after scheduling the first dose can call 832-393-4220.
As of Feb. 11, the city had administered 37,912 first doses and 15,740 second doses, according to the department.
