5.6 million calls from telephone lines to register WellMed COVID vaccine in San Antonio

SAINT ANTHONY – If you’re having trouble accessing WellMed’s locations in San Antonio’s South and West Sides this week, you won’t be alone.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a staggering 5.6 million phone calls had been received since the registry opened over the weekend, Councilwoman Adriana Rocha-Garcia told KSAT.

WellMed previously told KSAT that the toll-free number (833-968-1745) quickly ran aground as community members tried to secure places to get vaccinated.

Rocha-Garcia said 4,775 vaccines were administered within three days at the Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Center, operated by the WellMed Charitable Foundation on Southwest Military Drive and the city’s Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior Center on Culebra Road.

A total of 9,000 doses were available at both facilities, but all the slots have been filled, according to WellMed officials.

When more time slots open, city officials ask residents to call the same toll-free number between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to set up an appointment. Phones will be answered seven days a week during the 12-hour period. If you can’t get through it, city officials say keep trying, as the lines receive hundreds of calls every minute.

The Alamodome vaccine clinic is also full. San Antonio City officials reported last week in a press release that the COVID-19 vaccine registration register was completed in just six minutes and that more than 11,000 people were on the registration website when it opened.

The Alamodome location is capable of providing up to 1,500 vaccines a day. When more vaccines are available, the city will make the announcement through its social media channels.

San Antonio now has four mass vaccination sites that can deliver about 30,000 vaccines a week, including the Alamodome, two WellMed clinics, and the University Health Mass Vaccination Clinic at Wonderland Mall. None of them have vaccines available at this time.

“There are more than a million people in Bexar County who are eligible for the vaccine right now,” Dr. Colleen Bridger said. “At two doses per person, it will take months to administer the vaccines to all residents of Bexar County. The good news is that we are more than equipped to administer all the doses we receive, so the message is being sent to state leaders. and federals that we need more, much more ”.

In Texas, people in the state’s Phase 1A and Phase 1B categories are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including health care workers, long-term care center residents, anyone over 65 years and anyone 18 years of age or older with a chronic illness. Chronic diseases include cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, solid organ transplant recipients, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, and type 2 diabetes.