The Houston Methodist will soon begin to notify patients to schedule vaccination times

HOUSTON – Houston Methodist said on Thursday that certain patients will soon start receiving notifications to schedule appointments for the coronavirus injection.

According to a plan published on the hospital system’s website, patients who have consulted a primary care physician or specialist in the past two years will be eligible to receive the vaccine to the general public.

Authorities said they will soon begin to notify patients by text message in the following order:

1. Patients aged 75 years or older.
2. Patients aged 65 to 74 years.
3. Patients under the age of 65 and at least one Class 1 condition or at least two Class 2 comorbidities.

Class 1 conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart conditions (congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy), obesity (BMI 30+), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, solid organ transplantation, Type I or II diabetes mellitus.

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Class 2 conditions include asthma, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents.

The vaccine was launched for the first time to frontline health professionals and people in long-term care facilities as part of Phase 1A.

On Wednesday, the Texas State Department of Health Services said vaccine providers could begin administering the vaccine to people in Phase 1B.

The authorities said that anyone who believes they fit into either group should contact their doctor to determine whether they can receive the vaccine.

Dr. James McCarthy, chief physician at Hermann Memorial Hospital, provides information on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Houston and how the vaccine will be launched.