SAN ANTONIO – On Monday, 6,000 COVID-19 vaccines arrived in San Antonio, but Mayor Ron Nirenberg is reminding the public that there is still a long way to go before everyone in the Alamo City gets the vaccination.

In a Tweet, Nirenberg said that while the vaccines “absolutely” feel like “hope in a box” and that the 6,000 doses are just the first part of the solution. Approximately 1.6 million people in the area will eventually need a vaccine.

The mayor reminded the public to continue wearing masks as well as wash their hands and avoid crowds.

San Antonio was one of four Texas cities to receive the first wave of vaccines. According to the CDC, the first doses will go to health care workers.

H-E-B, one of the authorized companies that will help distribute the vaccine to Texans, says it anticipates the vaccine will be more readily available to the general public by spring of 2021.

After health care workers and people living in long-term care facilities get the initial doses, essential workers and people 65 years or older will receive the vaccines next.