Right now, thousands of people a day receive the COVID-19 vaccine in various parts of Houston. It’s a shot Kimberly Mannino told ABC13 she was thrilled to get it.
“I felt like winning the lottery,” Mannino recalled.
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Mannino, who is part of the second eligible group, said it took three months to get the first dose. Last month he received his first dose at Delmar Stadium, where he received a card with a second dose date. But when he contacted the Houston Department of Health, he was told there were no appointments.
“I felt like it was a slap in the face because I followed all the rules,” Mannino recalled. “Apart from work, because I’m an essential worker and the grocery store, I haven’t left my house.”
Feeling frustrated, Mannino turned to social media and sent a tweet to Mayor Sylvester Turner to help resolve the situation. The next thing he knew, he got a call and an appointment for a second dose this week.
SEE ALSO: County breakdown of COVID-19 vaccine distributions
“I guess I don’t understand all this bureaucracy if it’s exactly the same vaccine,” Mannino said.
The health department said the date of the second dose on the card may not be when you get a shot. Instead of 21 or 28 days later, it could be 42. The CDC said that as long as you receive a second dose in 42 days, the vaccine is still effective.
The City of Houston said it will arrive 48 hours before the scheduled appointment for your second dose. A spokesman said that even with broader eligibility for all Texas adults, there are enough photos available for those who need them; it may not be as fast as you would like.
If you do not receive a text message, email or miss your second appointment, you can call 832-393-5190 or email [email protected].
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