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Hays County Vaccine FAQs

Q. Where can I sign up for a vaccine appointment?

A. Visit haysinformed.com to put your name on the pre-registration wait list. The pre-registration list does not guarantee an appointment. Your name will be on the wait list for whichever of the two groups you qualify, either 1A or 1B per Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) rules.

NOTE: A phone call in system will be implemented soon. For now, sign-ups are only available online.

Q. How long will it take to get an appointment once I sign up?

A. Given the extremely high demand and low supply of vaccines, it could be weeks or months before we have an appointment opening for you. There is no need to call or email us once you sign up; we will distribute the small number of doses we receive in the most efficient manner possible.

Q. Do you have to be a resident of Hays County to get a vaccine here?

A. No, vaccine doses are for anyone even if they do not reside in our county.

Q. Is the County using the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine? What are the differences?

A. The last two vaccine shipments received by the Hays County Local Health Department were manufactured by Pfizer. See the fact sheets from the manufacturers by clicking the links.

Q. How do I know if I qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine?

A. Visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website to view the criteria for the Phase 1A and 1B groups.

Q. I/someone I know have/has one of the qualifying chronic conditions listed by DSHS in Phase 1B. How does the County prioritize vaccine distribution?

A. The Hays County Local Health Department has received small quantities of the vaccine. When we open an appointment portal, anyone who qualifies under DSHS rules can sign up. The County does not prioritize any group or subgroup within the 1B category.

Q. Are all school district employees currently eligible to receive the vaccine?

A. Per DSHS rules, only those who are age 65 or older and/or those who fall into the 1B category are able to be vaccinated at this time.

Q. I take care of my elderly parents. Am I eligible to receive the vaccine per DSHS 1B rules?

A. If you qualify under either the 1A or 1B group, you are eligible to receive a vaccine.

Q. When the County receives more doses of the vaccine, can I come to a vaccine clinic without an appointment?

A. At this time, the Hays County vaccine clinics are by appointment only. Please do not show up to a vaccine clinic location unless you have a scheduled appointment. It is our hope that Texas will soon have enough of the vaccine to meet the extremely high demand. Once that occurs, vaccine clinics throughout the State could possibly operate without appointments.

Q. Can I register myself and my spouse, parent, and/or child, etc. at the same time?

A. You can register as many people who qualify under the 1A or 1B lists as needed. Please note, the pre-registration system requires unique emails for each person you want to add to the list. Same-day/time appointments cannot be guaranteed.

Q. Is there a cancellation list?

Not at this time. We are looking into ways to improve our registration process.

Q. Can I show up at a vaccine clinic at the end of the day in case there are leftover doses?

A. We are looking into ways to improve our process and will announce any changes as they become available. Please do not show up at a clinic without an appointment. This causes a delay for staff who are working to run the clinics as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Q. If I need the second dose, can I sign up with Hays County even if I got my first shot elsewhere? Or if I received a different brand of vaccine the first time?

A. Providers (like the County’s health department) should receive second doses for those who received their first dose. If you received your first dose through the HCLHD, you should already have an appointment for your second dose.

Q. Where are the vaccine clinics?

A. Locations may change weekly. When we contact you with an appointment slot, you will receive the details in terms of time and location.

Q. How long do I have to wait in between my first and second doses?

A. Read the fact sheets from Moderna and Pfizer.

Q. Will the County set my second appointment when I get my first shot?

A. Yes, you will make an appointment for your second shot during the first appointment. You will receive a reminder email of a date and time for your next vaccine, which will be given at the same location that you received the first dose.

Q. Do I need to bring proof from my doctor that I am in Phase 1B?

A. While we don’t require proof, we encourage only those people who qualify under the Phase 1B group based on the DSHS criteria to sign up.

Q. What should I bring with me to my vaccine appointments?

A. Please bring a form of identification and any online forms that you filled out ahead of time.

Q. How long will it take once I arrive?

A. The estimated time from start to finish is about 30-40 minutes, but it can vary based on many factors. After receiving a dose, you will need to be observed for at least 15 minutes to ensure you don’t have a reaction to the vaccine.

Q. Can I come earlier than my appointment time?

A. Due to social distancing requirements, we encourage you to arrive at your scheduled appointment time. This helps us limit the number of people inside at any given time to only those who need to be there. If you arrive early, you will need to wait in your car until your appointment time.

Q. Who can come with me to my appointment?

A. Unless you require assistance of any kind, we ask that you come to your appointment alone. This will help us keep the number of people in the building to a minimum.

Q. Are children (who are not being vaccinated) allowed into the clinics?

A. Children are not allowed into vaccine clinic sites unless they are 16+ and have an appointment to receive a vaccine due to having one of the chronic conditions listed on the DSHS website for 1B.

Q. Does the County offer transportation to vaccine clinics?

A. We do not have any transportation options for vaccine clinics. We are exploring mobile units to go into neighborhoods and rural parts of the County, but that option won’t be available until we have more doses of the vaccine from DSHS.

Q. Will anyone at the clinic speak Spanish?

A. Yes, there will be Spanish speakers available on site.

Q. What should I wear on the day of my appointment?

A. Short-sleeve shirts are best since the injections will be in your arm; please bring a sweater or jacket as rooms may be cool while you are waiting.

Q. Who is doing the vaccine injections?

A. Vaccines will be administered by either an RN, LVN or higher certified medical provider OR a Paramedic or higher certified First Responder.

Q. Should I continue with the safety protocols after I’m vaccinated?

A. Yes, the Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing masks, washing your hands and staying away from large gatherings even after receiving the vaccine.

Q. Can I volunteer to help the County with vaccine distribution?

A. We always welcome the opportunity for volunteers to join our efforts. Please go to the CERT website and apply to be a volunteer.

Q. Do volunteers get vaccinated?

A. There may be an opportunity to receive the vaccine if supplies are available.

Hays County