Austin, Texas – Austin Public Health (APH) is sharing the latest operating adjustments and updates to the COVID-19 vaccine. This information is updated as of noon on Friday, January 29, 2021.
COVID-19 vaccine updates
To improve access to the COVID-19 vaccine across Austin-Travis County, APH is opening a third vaccination site in northern Travis County. This site will also be by appointment only and will not accept occasional visits. The site location will be shared with those who have appointments.
This week, APH began providing second doses to those who received their first doses in the Texas State Department of Health Services (DSHS) APH first allocation. These individuals are in Phase 1A and include nursing home residents and employees not covered by the state program, APH and other health professionals administering vaccines and conducting COVID-19 tests and first responders.
Individuals who received their first APH vaccine will be contacted proactively when it is time to schedule the second dose. As a reminder, individuals do not need to receive the second dose exactly four weeks after the first dose (for Moderna). The vaccine will be equally effective if they receive it up to 40 days later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information on vaccines and answers to frequently asked questions, visit: austintexas.gov/vaccine-faqs. This site is updated regularly.
As of Friday, January 29, APH has distributed a total of about 30,000 first doses of the vaccine. There are approximately 80,000 individuals who signed up through the APH pre-registration website who fall under Phase 1A or 1B, and more than 500,000 in 1A or 1B in Austin-Travis County. We ask the public to be patient with our teams, as vaccine doses are still very limited. APH is seeking to vaccinate the community in the most equitable and efficient way possible. Although the vaccine is still limited in Austin-Travis County, we will continue to survey the community to identify those in Phase 1A and 1B.
The DSHS informed the APH that it will receive 12,000 doses in the week of February 1.
Operational Adjustments
To make better use of APH resources, the COVID-19 test sites at Givens and Little Walnut Creek were closed. These closings will not affect the number of tests that APH can provide in a week, which is still approximately 11,000. Individuals with insurance are encouraged to get tested through their doctor or pharmacy.
The Texas Emergency Management Division (TDEM) has hired a new supplier for the Pflugerville test site. Individuals will still be required to make an appointment; the new URL to register for a test is: texas.spartancovidtesting.com. The new opening hours of the website are from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas, visit the Texas State Department of Health (DSHS) vaccine information page.
For more information about COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County, visit AustinTexas.gov/COVID19-Vaccines.