TEXAS — There are three vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States. People 12 years and older can get the Pfizer vaccine. The protocol consists of two shots given three weeks apart, and a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second shot. People 18 years and older can get the Moderna vaccine. The protocol consists of two shots given four weeks apart, and a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second shot.
People 18 years and older can get the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. The protocol consists of only one shot, and a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second shot. The CDC recommends getting the second shot as close to the recommended 3- week or 4-week interval as possible, but it can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if necessary.
At this time, experts do not know how long protection will last or whether a booster shot will be necessary later.
As of Wednesday, May 12 everyone 12 years old and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas.
There are a number of ways to find a vaccine near you:
Visit vaccines.gov, or check the Texas COVID-19 Vaccination Hub Providers list
The Texas Vaccine Scheduler helps Texans get scheduled for a COVID-19 vaccine at clinics hosted by participating Texas public health entities. Register online at GetTheVaccine.dshs.texas.gov. You will be notified by email or text when and where to get the vaccine. If there’s not a clinic near you, you will be directed to other places to get your vaccine. Call (833) 832-7067 if you don’t have internet or need help signing up. Spanish language and other translators are available to help callers.
The following retail pharmacies are also administering the vaccines at certain locations:
- Albertsons Companies, Inc. (including Osco, Jewel-Osco, Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Safeway, Tom Thumb, Star Market, Shaw’s, Haggen, Acme, Randalls, Carrs, Market Street, United, Vons, Pavilions, Amigos, Lucky’s, Pak n Save, Sav-On)
- Costco Wholesale Corp.
- CPESN USA, LLC
- CVS Pharmacy, Inc. (including Long’s)
- Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation’s pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), Elevate Provider Network
- Health Mart Pharmacies
- H-E-B, LP
- LeaderNET and The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Cardinal Health’s PSAOs
- The Kroger Co. (including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Ralphs, King Soopers, Smiths, City Market, Dillons, Mariano’s, Pick-n-Save, Copps, Metro Market, QFC)
- Topco Associates, LLC (including Acme Fresh Markets, Associated Food Stores, Bashas, Big-Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center, Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Super One Pharmacy, FRESH by Brookshire’s Pharmacy, Coborn’s Pharmacy, Cash Wise Pharmacy, MarketPlace Pharmacy, Giant Eagle, Hartig Drug Company, King Kullen, Food City Pharmacy, Ingles Pharmacy, Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill Pharmacies, Save Mart Pharmacies, Lucky Pharmacies, SpartanNash, Price Chopper, Market 32, Tops Friendly Markets, ShopRite, Wegmans, Weis Markets, Inc.)
- Walmart, Inc. (including Sam’s Club)
- Walgreens (including Duane Reade)
According to the CDC, people who have been fully vaccinated can resume some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. For more updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and pandemic, refer to the Texas Health and Human Services website.