San Antonio Citizens Should Prepare for a ‘Long Haul’ on Vaccine Distribution

Hospital COVID-19 admissions and positivity rates have taken a downward trend in the San Antonio area, a result of people wearing their masks, staying inside, and not congregating with others outside their households.

That was the optimistic message relayed by Dr. Colleen Bridger of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District in kicking off an AARP tele-town hall on January 11. But there’s another side to this story. Vaccine distribution will continued patience from citizens.

“We have received 25,000 doses a week since the first week of January,” but even with increased vaccine distribution, “we are at a long haul,” she said.

In response to a caller’s question, Bridger advised patience and persistence when seeking vaccine treatments. She noted the federal government, the main distributor of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, is projecting the amount of vaccines will increase substantially in the month of March. When vaccine distribution ramps up, treatment options will also widen, the plan is to distribute to private pharmacies and private doctors’ offices.

Another caller during the virtual event asked how long it would take to achieve herd immunity status after the second dose.

“It takes two weeks after your second dose to be ‘fully vaccinated’” said Bridger. However, patients who receive their second dose should not expect a return to normalcy. After two weeks have passed “you are less likely to get COVID and if you do contract COVID are less likely to have a severe reaction.”

Recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine still need to wear a mask to prevent transmission of the virus, especially when interacting with high-risk individuals who have not been vaccinated, she said.

Bridger also addressed a common misconception about county plans to vaccinate city employees, reassuring callers that “the city is intentionally not vaccinating employees because we want prioritize people over the age of 65.”

The City of San Antonio is hosting three county--sponsored mass vaccination hubs. For more information on registering for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit:  

City of San Antonio Vaccine Hub at the Alamo Dome https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Services/Vaccination-for-COVID-19

University Health System: https://www.universityhealthsystem.com/coronavirus-covid19/vaccine UT Health, San Antonio Physicians: https://www.uthscsa.edu/patient-care/physicians/covid-19-vaccine-information

Persons with limited internet access in the San Antonio area can also call 311 to set up an appointment.

More information can also be found at www.aarp.org/TxVaccine.