Here's what you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas

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All people 16 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. And Texans as young as 12 years old can soon start getting the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 immunization.

After months of not having enough COVID-19 vaccines to meet demand, Texas now appears to have plenty of shots. But not as many people are lining up to receive them.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas?

All adults are eligible for the vaccine in Texas. The vaccines are not limited to Texas residents, and citizenship is not a requirement for the vaccine. On May 13, The Texas Department of State Health Services advised providers that the Pfizer vaccine can be administered to adolescents age 12 to 15 years old, in line with federal guidance. Parental consent is required for vaccinating children in this age group, either orally or in writing, though the guardian does not necessarily need to be present for the shot itself.

Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The vaccine will be available at a range of health care providers, including pharmacies, community health centers, doctors' offices, hospitals, university medical schools and large vaccination hubs.

The state has launched a website for people to sign up for vaccines at public health centers and state-run clinics. The Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler will alert participants to upcoming events and available appointments. People who do not have access to the internet can call (833) 832-7067 to schedule an appointment. The call center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week. Spanish language and other translators are available to help callers, according to the Texas Health and Human services website.

Texans can use this map to find vaccines near them.

Texans can also find information for state designated “vaccination hubs” here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state emergency management officials are also running mass vaccination sites aimed at underserved communities in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. The sites are NRG Stadium in Houston, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Fair Park in Dallas. Residents need a reservation before showing up to these sites. FEMA is working with county and city health departments to offer doses to those already on their waitlists and working to reach more vulnerable zip codes.

Some COVID-19 vaccination providers have also started accepting walk-ins, including several CVS pharmacies, Walmarts and Sam's Clubs.

The governor has also said some 1,100 members of the Texas National Guard will administer vaccines to older people in their homes in rural and isolated areas of the state. The renewed effort to reach older Texans who are unable to leave or have difficulty leaving their homes, an effort dubbed Save Our Seniors, launched Feb. 22. The state is working with organizations like Meals On Wheels and nursing groups to identify homebound older Texans who have volunteered to be vaccinated.

How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires that vaccine doses purchased with taxpayer dollars be given at no cost. But providers are allowed to charge an administration fee, which can be reimbursed through insurance. People without insurance will not be charged, according to DSHS.

For people covered under Medicare or Medicaid, the federal government will cover the cost of the vaccine and any fees.

Texas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan requires providers to administer the vaccine “regardless of the vaccine recipient’s ability to pay COVID-19 vaccine administration fees.”

I’m a veteran. What do I need to know about getting the vaccine?

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is working with the CDC and other federal partners give the vaccine to eligible Veterans, spouses, and caregivers. People can sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine using this form, which will share the information with their local VA health facility.

How many shots of the vaccine do I need?

Two of the coronavirus vaccines — Moderna and Pfizer — authorized in the United States need two shots to be effective, according to the CDC.

A third, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, only requires one dose. On April 23, Texas health officials told vaccine providers across the state that they could resume using the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine in all adult recipients after it was was paused over a small number of reports of a rare but serious clotting side effect in recipients.

Health experts have recently said it's still too early to know if people will need a booster shot or any additional shots in the coming years after their last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Once you’ve received all of the required doses of the vaccine you were given, health experts still recommend wearing a mask to cover your nose and mouth when you're outside of your home. People who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to the CDC. But they recommend to keep those gatherings small.

Will I be notified when to receive the second dose? Will I be required to schedule an appointment?

According to DSHS, when you get the vaccine, you will receive information about what kind of vaccine you got and if you need to go back for a second dose. You can also register for the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker to receive health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, along with reminders to get your second dose if you need one. Only two of the current three vaccines authorized in the United States require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose.

How long after the second shot does it take before the vaccine reaches maximum immunity?

For the vaccines that require two doses, you will usually develop full protection one to two weeks after getting your second dose. At this time, experts do not know how long that protection will last or whether a booster shot will be necessary after the initial recommended vaccine dose(s). The CDC says it won’t know how long immunity lasts after vaccination until it has more data on how well COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. The CDC and DSHS will keep the public informed as they learn more.

Can I gather with other people once I get both doses of the vaccine? 

Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, according to the CDC. Exceptions include areas where masks and social distancing are required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Health officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. The new guidance does not mention anything related to travel, and visiting restaurants or other places, even as several states have begun loosening COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. The guidance also doesn't mention anything about people who've gained some level of immunity from having been infected and recovered from the virus.

Fully vaccinated people should still follow steps to protect themselves and others — like wearing a mask and social distance — when gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household, visiting with high-risk unvaccinated people or people who live with them, and traveling in a bus, train or airplane.

Nursing home residents who are fully vaccinated are now allowed to get close-contact visitation at facilities under most circumstances.

How is Texas keeping track of who’s gotten the first dose? 

The Texas Department of State Health Services has a map that tracks where doses of the coronavirus vaccines are going and how many people are receiving them. The state’s dashboard has so far separated the numbers by the phase.

But the state’s numbers could lag up to two days behind what's happening on the ground. Providers have 24 hours to report their vaccination statistics to the agency, which updates its numbers each afternoon with data reported by midnight the day before.

How will I know when to get my second dose of the vaccine?

Texans should receive a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card when they get their first dose of the vaccine. This card will include: the date of their first dose; the dose manufacturer’s name and the lot number of the vaccine; the health care professional or clinic site; and the date to return for their second dose, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Texans who receive a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine can also book their second dose during their appointment for the first one. If they don’t, they can make the appointment later. The provider may also contact them proactively to schedule the follow-up dose. The health department recommends people get their second dose at the same location they got their first so “each provider has an opportunity to order a matching number of second doses to arrive at the appropriate time.”

Are there different reactions to the vaccine depending on the manufacturer? 

There are three manufacturers whose vaccines are currently approved for use in the US: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the most common side effect reported for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is a headache. Fatigue or chills were the next most frequent symptoms reported by people who’ve received the vaccine.

Texas has seen similar symptoms reported compared to the national symptoms reported by the manufacturers.

Side effects related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine include pain at injection site, headache, feeling very tired, muscle aches, nausea and fever, according to the manufacturer. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was recently paused after a "rare and severe type of blood clot" was reported in at least 12 women across the nation after getting the shot. On April 23, Texas health officials recommended resuming the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Health experts say the risk of this type of complication for people who have gotten the vaccine "more than a month ago" is "very low." Those who have gotten it more recently should "be aware" and look for any of the more severe symptoms.

If my first dose is by one manufacturer, can I receive a dose from the other for the second?

The second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be from the same manufacturer. This is why the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends returning to the same location as the first dose for the second one.

Who decides who is eligible to receive doses of the vaccine?

Decisions on how doses of the vaccine are allocated are made by a state panel of advisers — including lawmakers, state and local health officials, and medical experts and researchers. The group, known as the Expert Vaccine Advisory Panel, provides recommendations for final approval by Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas DSHS.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?

Yes. Health experts and public officials widely agree that the vaccine is safe. The three currently approved vaccine manufacturers — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — reported their vaccines are 95%, 94% and 72% effective, respectively, at protecting people from serious illness. While no vaccine is without side effects, clinical trials for Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson show serious reactions are rare.

On April 23, Texas health officials told vaccine providers across the state that they could resume using the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine in all adult recipients. The recommendation came nearly two weeks after that particular vaccine was paused over a small number of reports of a rare but serious clotting side effect in recipients.

Health experts say the risk of this type of complication for people who have gotten the vaccine "more than a month ago" is "very low." Those who have gotten it more recently should "be aware" and look for any of the more severe symptoms.

Abbott received his first dose of the vaccine in December, telling reporters, “I will never ask a Texan to do something I’m not willing to do myself.”

Should I still get the vaccine if I’ve had COVID-19? 

Yes. Medical experts recommend that people who have had COVID-19 should still get the vaccine. Research has shown that people can be reinfected with the virus, and the vaccine adds an extra layer of protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If someone’s treatment included monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, they should talk to their doctor before scheduling a vaccine appointment. The CDC recommends that people who received those treatments should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.

Should I still wear a mask after I get the vaccine? 

Fully vaccinated people can resume some activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, according to the CDC. Exceptions include areas where masks and social distancing are required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Health experts say wearing a mask lessens the chances of contracting the virus, and have recommended that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks and social distance despite the CDC guidance. Health experts estimate 75% to 90% of Texans would need to achieve immunity to COVID-19 for the state to reach herd immunity. Health officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine.

How will Texans in rural areas without reliable transportation get the vaccine? 

For older Texans who need help accessing the vaccine, there are several initiatives happening at both the state and local levels, says Douglas Loveday, a spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. Local chapters of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging have helped identify and set appointments for locals to be vaccinated.

Loveday also said several councils of governments across the state have been helping people in more rural areas by pairing older Texans with smaller, local providers including pharmacies to help ease the vaccine process for them. These services are also available to people of any age who qualify for the vaccine because of other conditions.

For example, the Rio Grande Council of Governments is contacting Texans in those seven counties and the The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo who are part of phase 1B to help them schedule appointments or provide them with information to get them vaccinated. Texans can find useful contacts for their council in this directory.

Loveday also said some local health departments will move older Texans or those who cannot stand for long time to the front of the queue at vaccine sites. And some parts of the state have opened drive-thru vaccine sites, including Dallas, Fort Bend and Brazoria.

The state and Texas National Guard has also partnered with groups like Meals on Wheels for its Save our Seniors program, aimed at reaching older Texans in their homes who are unable to get to a vaccination site. The state has also increased allocations to individual providers in remote areas to ramp up access for rural Texans who don't live near large hubs.

I’ve tried everything to get a vaccine. I can’t get one or get my question answered. Who do I contact at the state level?

If you have questions or concerns, or you would like more information about COVID-19 vaccine distribution, you can email coronavirus@dshs.texas.gov or call 211 and choose Option 6.

To reach an elected official, you can find who represents you in Congress and in the Texas Legislature — and their contact information — by typing your address into the Tribune’s Elected Officials Directory.

The state has launched a website for people to sign up for vaccines at public health centers and state-run clinics. The Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler will alert participants to upcoming events and available appointments. People who do not have access to the internet can call (833) 832-7067 to schedule an appointment. The call center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week. Spanish language and other translators are available to help callers, according to the Texas Health and Human services website.

Disclosure: Baylor Scott & White Health, Effectiv, H-E-B and Texas Central have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.