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A COVID-19 vaccination hub run by the city of Dallas aiming to inoculate 5,000 people in three days kicks off downtown on Thursday.
Texts and emails are being sent as well as phone calls to eligible Texans to set up drive-through appointments at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin St. The scheduled vaccinations will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and continue until Saturday.
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This is the city of Dallas’ first time providing vaccines to the public after inoculating first responders.
The city received 2,000 doses on Dec. 28 and administered all of them to about 40% of the city’s first responders in a convention center parking garage by Jan. 5.
Those workers began receiving their second doses on Tuesday and the efforts will continue on a different floor from the public. Those doses are separate from the 5,000 that are reserved for the general public.
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The city says there will be 80 staff members working 16 stations to administer the vaccines. City officials estimate it could take around an hour to get through.
Here are some answers to questions about the site:
Who can get the vaccine?
The city of Dallas will be distributing Moderna vaccines to Texans in phase 1A or 1B who have previously registered with Dallas County to receive shots.
The 1A group consists of frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
The 1B group includes those either 65 or older, or those who are at least 16 with a chronic medical condition. The state defines that as anyone with cancer, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, pregnancy and severe obesity
Dallas County provided the city with a list of 5,000 people who registered for vaccines on Tuesday, according to Rocky Vaz, Dallas’ emergency management office director. He said he hadn’t seen the list, but that it likely includes people from around the Metroplex because Texas residents can sign up to get a vaccine at any large vaccination site or hub around the state.
The city will compile data on people who get vaccinated that will include where they’re from and other demographic information, Vaz said.
How do I know if I’m on the city’s short list to get a dose?
People should receive either an automated text, email or phone call starting Wednesday requesting them to schedule an appointment. The phone call will be from a 615 area code from Nashville, Tenn. due to the service the city is using to notify people. The text will be from 34292, but the email should say it’s from the city of Dallas.
People will be called if they are unable to schedule an appointment by text or email. He said they should schedule their appointments as soon as possible to claim a time slot.
What do I need to bring to get a shot?
Photo identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, work ID or library card is needed to get a vaccine. Also, proof of the appointment confirmation either on paper or a cellphone picture is required. Face masks are also mandatory.
What happens when I arrive for my appointment?
Check in at Parking Lot C at 650 S. Griffin St. The lot is across the street from the convention center’s area C entrance and in front of the A. Maceo Smith Federal Building.
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After check-in, people will drive into the convention center parking garage across the street and follow the line until they receive their shots in their vehicle. After people get a shot, they will be monitored for at least 15 minutes for any immediate side effects.
If I register today, can I get a shot at the convention center this week?
No. But authorities still encourage people to register. Being on the list means people are still eligible to receive vaccines either at Fair Park or Parkland Hospital, UT Southwestern Medical Center or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, which will also pull from the county’s list.
People can register for the vaccine on the county website or by calling the registration hotline at 469-749-9900. Around 416,000 people have registered for the vaccine as of Wednesday.
What if I miss my appointment?
If there are open slots and available vaccines, people who don’t arrive for their appointments will be called, possibly twice, to reschedule this week. If they are unable to be reached or can’t reschedule, their name will go back onto the county’s registration database. Those people could receive vaccines later through one of the other providers or through the city if Dallas continues to receive direct allocations of the vaccine.
What if I scheduled an appointment but don’t have a car or can’t drive myself?
Arrange for someone to drive you to the convention center for the scheduled appointment, if possible. As long as you’re sitting by a window when you are driven through the parking garage, you can receive your first dose. If you are unable to get someone to drive you through the site but can get dropped off at the convention center, you may still be able to get your first dose.