5 Ways To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine In Houston And Protect Your Family
If you are in the Houston area and interested in getting your COVID-19 vaccine, this guide will provide you with the information you need to find a provider.
Ways To Guard Against COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
As if we did not have to worry about enough threats during this pandemic, you can add COVID-19 related scams to that list also.
The AARP published an article that details the following steps that you can take to avoid any fraud surrounding this vaccine.
- Only rely on trusted sources for guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes essentially your doctor and local health departments, like that of the City of Houston and Harris County Public Health Department. In the initial months, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities and only given to certain populations (seniors, those with disabilities, medical professionals).
- Don’t buy a COVID 19 vaccine found online. This includes online pharmacies and medical websites. Again you want to consult with your doctor or the local health department about this.
- Be wary of random messaging with the promise of a COVID 19 vaccine. This includes phone calls, text messages, or social media posts. Pass on these offers, because these are most likely scams.
- Don’t provide money or personal information to anyone calling to offer you a vaccine. This information can be used to bill health care programs, which would be fraud on their part.
- Decline offers to “skip the line” and receive an early COVID-19 vaccine.
Editor’s note: If you received a call from someone soliciting a COVID 19 vaccine that you believe was a scam you can report this to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
How Much Will The COVID-19 Vaccine Cost?
According to Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar, the COVID-19 vaccine will be free of charge to Americans.
The U.S. Government has already paid $7.76 billion for vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Novavax. Azar states that “costs will be covered by private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and our program to cover COVID-19 expenses for the uninsured”.
All that being said it is my opinion that you should still consult with your doctor and especially your health insurance company on the exact details of any COVID-19 expenses.
1. Visit Vaccines.gov
Finding a COVID 19 vaccine in Houston has become a lot easier in the past 5 months. One reason for this is government sponsored websites like Vaccines.gov.
You can visit Vaccines.gov and find multiple local COVID 19 vaccine providers in your area. In addition this website also gives you the option to choose between vaccines like Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson.
2. Contact The Houston Health Department
The second way that you can find a COVID 19 vaccine is by contacting the Houston Health Department. They have a COVID 19 Call Center that operates Monday through Friday and help you to schedule an appointment for the COVID 19 vaccine or a COVID 19 test in Houston.
The City of Houston offers a number of fixed COVID 19 vaccine sites that provide the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. To learn more about these Houston COVID vaccine distribution sites you can visit HoustonEmergency.org.
You can also contact the City of Houston’s COVID 19 Call Center at 832.393.4220.
Harris County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine
The Harris County Public Health Department is another reliable agency in Houston that you can contact regarding COVID 19 vaccine.
If you visit the Harris County Public Health website you will find a listing of local Houston hospitals and retails pharmacies that also provide the COVID 19 vaccine.
You can contact the Harris County Public Health department at 832-927-8787.
3. Find COVID 19 Vaccines Near You Via Text Or Phone
According to the CDC website, another way to find COVID 19 vaccine providers in Houston is by texting your zip code to 438829. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
4. Get Vaccinated In Houston At A Retail Pharmacy
To do this you have a few options:
- You can simply contact the CVS, Walgreens, or any other retail pharmacy near you to see if they provide the COVID 19 vaccine.
- Another option is to refer to providers on the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. This is a collection of retail pharmacies that have partnered with the federal government to provide more people with access to the COVID 19 vaccine. You can use this website to find federal pharmacy partners in any state.
5. Contact Your Primary Care Doctor
Lastly, if you have a primary care doctor you can also ask them if they can either give you the COVID 19 vaccine or if they can refer you to local vaccine providers in Houston.
Editor’s note: If you do not have a Houston doctor you can obtain one by applying for the Harris Health Gold Card or calling a low-cost medical clinic in Houston.
Conclusion
As aforementioned, finding the COVID 19 vaccine in Houston is alot easier now, when compared to January when the vaccine was first available.
Two of the easiest ways to find the COVID 19 vaccine in in Houston is by visiting the Vaccinces.gov website or by calling the City of Houston Health Department’s COVID 19 Call Center at 832-393-4220 or 832-393-4301.
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Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.