San Antonio Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Text Alerts

February 25, 2021 - San Antonio

Vaccine Text Alerts. Residents who wish to receive updates about COVID-19 vaccination availability can now sign up to receive text notifications directly to their cell phone. Image Courtesy: City of San Antonio.

Vaccine Text Alerts. Residents who wish to receive updates about COVID-19 vaccination availability can now sign up to receive text notifications directly to their cell phone. Image Courtesy: City of San Antonio.

By Valeria Torrealba, Senior Reporter | San Antonio Sentinel

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • The City of San Antonio has launched a vaccine availability text alert system in order to keep the community informed about the release of more COVID-19 vaccines.
  • In addition to the aforementioned text alerts, residents can call the WellMed Medical Group Hotline at (833) 968 - 1745 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to schedule first dose appointments.

The City of San Antonio has partnered with some of the Bexar County vaccine distribution sites to create a vaccine availability text alert system to keep the community informed about the release of more COVID-19 vaccines. Residents who wish to receive updates about COVID-19 vaccination availability can now sign up to receive text notifications directly to their cell phone. 

As more providers and pharmacies are allocated vaccines from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the City wanted to create a tool that would alert the public when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The City of San Antonio will collaborate with local vaccine sites that are open to the public and send a text notification to also reach those without internet access. Metro Health community health workers, partner agencies, and 311 will continue to sign up residents who do not have a cell phone or access to the internet.

In March 2020, the City of San Antonio had approximately 1,500 subscribers to its text message alert program. Throughout the pandemic, the service has been promoted through more avenues, including the Mayor’s nightly briefings. More than 40,000 subscribers now utilize the service to receive City news and information.

Individuals who decide to opt-in can text VACCINE to 55000 or in Spanish VACUNA to 55000 starting Feb. 24. By signing up they will receive a text notifying them which locations have available appointments. Opting in to this text alert system will not sign you up for a vaccine or add you on to a wait list. This is an additional method to inform the community when new appointments are available.

FOUR WAYS TO SIGN UP FOR COVID-19 ALERTS

  1. Download the Ready South Texas app, available in the iTunes and Google Play stores

  2. Text COSAGOV to 55000 to receive SMS text message updates

  3. Follow @COSAGOV on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

  4. Bookmark covid19.sanantonio.gov

 

Other ways for individuals to get a vaccine appointment are through calling the WellMed Medical Group Hotline at (833) 968-1745 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for first-dose appointments. Additionally, vaccine appointment slots are periodically updated through CVS Pharmacy. More information can be found here.

Public service announcements on social distancing, prevention and testing are available here.

 


Valeria Torrealba is an opinions columnist and public relations assistant at the University Star, a student publication of Texas State University. Email her at reporter@sasentinel.com