Houston Department of Health
Houston Department of Health Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Waiting List
March 1, 2021
HOUSTON – The Houston Department of Health today expanded its COVID-19 vaccine waiting list to all age groups eligible for vaccination according to the Texas State Health Services criteria. The waiting list is used to schedule the department’s appointment assignment at the FEMA community vaccination center at NRG Park and its other vaccination sites.
Phase 1A of the state criteria focuses on frontline health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1B focuses on people aged 65 and over and people aged 16 and over with medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of serious illness due to COVID-19.
People who meet the criteria can sign up for the online waiting list at HoustonEmergency.org/covid19. Registration is also available by phone for people aged 60 and over through the Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4301. People with disabilities can call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 832-393-5500. Anyone else who needs assistance with registration can contact the COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220.
The department’s waiting list was previously open to people aged 65 and over and people aged 60 and over with chronic health problems. The expansion of the waiting list ensures that more members of the community who are eligible for the vaccine have access.
The vaccination site of the NRG Park community was fully opened on February 24. He will fully vaccinate approximately 126,000 people, serving 6,000 a day, seven days a week, for three weeks, before transitioning to the second dose for three weeks. The Houston Department of Health schedules 3,000 people a day for vaccinations on the spot using its waiting list.
Harris County Public Health also schedules 3,000 appointments per day at the NRG Park site. Harris County waiting list criteria and registration are available at https://vacstrac.hctx.net/landing or by calling 832-927-8787.
The health department will continue to prioritize people from its high-risk zip codes when scheduling appointments. Houston high risk postcodes are geographic areas with people most vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease, as identified by the rate of positivity, underlying health condition, economic and social data.