COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

We will be begin administering to 1A and 1B individuals on January 25th at the Midland County Horseshoe Backstage facility, by appointment only. Once on the waiting list, you will NOT receive a phone call to be scheduled. You will be assigned an appointment time and date and receive an e-mail or text message with the information needed. This communication will come from support@healthipass.com or 855-897-1447. If you’ve already put your name list, but do not qualify for the 1A or 1B distribution, your registration will be maintained on our waiting list until you are deemed eligible through state guidelines.  

Once you have a confirmed date/time of your vaccine, make sure you complete all forms online that are sent to you prior to arriving for the vaccine. If you do not complete the registration process prior to arrival, there may be a delay in your vaccination. Please take a valid picture ID with you to your appointment, arrive on time and wear a short sleeve or sleeveless shirt. If a jacket Is needed make sure it is easy to remove.

The Midland County Horseshoe facility is located at 2514 Arena Trail. Enter the Horseshoe parking lot from either Garfield or the I-20 Service Road, follow signage and volunteers around the Horseshoe property to the north side and park near the Backstage building. Click here for a map to the location. If unable to drive, EZ Rider will be providing bus routes to the Horseshoe vaccine location from the Downtown Transfer Center at :15 after each hour. Bus routes are available at http://www.ez-rider.org/routes.html.  

Locations that have the vaccine can be found by clicking here. This limited supply is only available to those in Phase 1A or 1B to include those 65 and over or with a chronic health condition. 

The CDC determines how many doses of vaccine Texas will receive each week, based on population. Once the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is notified of the number of doses expected the following week, DSHS staff presents possibilities of vaccine distribution to the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP). The panel makes modifications and recommendations to the commissioner of Health, who makes the final decision of that week's distribution locations.  

The Commissioner of Health appointed an EVAP to make recommendations on vaccine allocations decisions. This includes identifying groups that should be vaccinated first. The goal is to provide the most protection to vulnerable populations and critical state resources.

EVAP developed seven guiding principles of how Texas will allocate COVID-19 vaccines, which will be in limited supply as they roll out. Those principles are to:  

• Protect healthcare workers who care for and preserve the lives of COVID-19 patients and keep our healthcare system working.
• Protect front-line workers, who are at high risk of getting COVID-19 because they provide critical services.
• Protect the vulnerable, who are at high risk of severe disease and death if they get COVID-19.
• Reduce risks for Texans who may be at risk because of their race or ethnicity, where they live, limited income and healthcare coverage, and other factors.
• Distribute vaccines according to current science and data. Adjust as knowledge evolves.
• Geographic diversity through a balanced approach in urban and rural communities and in affected ZIP codes.
• Transparency with the public and seeking public input.

The FDA has authorized the vaccines under an EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) based off of safety data. Safety is a top priority and would not be authorized for use unless they were determined to be safe. Even though they found no safety issues during the clinical trials, CDC and other federal partners will continue to monitor the new vaccines.

For the most up-to date information from the CDC on vaccine safety, click here.

Currently the guidelines outlined by EVAP are that those Phase 1A and Phase 1B will be the first to get vaccinated in Texas. 

View Phase 1A here. 
View Phase 1B here. 

Spring 2021 is the best estimate of when the vaccine will be available for the general public, but that may change. It depends on vaccine production and how quickly vaccines become available. Check back here regularly for updates. 

If you are a healthcare worker, contact your employer. If you are a long-term care resident, contact your caretaker.

If you are 65 or older, or if you are 16 or older with underlying health conditions (Phase 1B), visit the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map to see providers near you who are offering the vaccine. In addition, please sign up to be on the list by selecting the "Click to Register" button on this page. 

Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection. But every type of vaccine works by teaching our bodies how to make cells that trigger an immune response. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. 

Currently, there are three main types of COVID-19 vaccines that are or soon will be undergoing large-scale (Phase 3) clinical trials in the United States:

• mRNA vaccines
• Protein subunit vaccines
• Vector vaccines

No, the vaccine is being administered under and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and is not mandated to take. At this time, the vaccine is only going to be administered if you voluntarily want to receive it. 

With the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you will receive 2 doses. 

After receiving the vaccine, you will be protected from the virus. Like the influenza vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine will either protect you from getting the virus, or if you get the virus, it will likely lessen severity. The vaccine is still being studied to see how efficient it is in protecting people from the virus. Early Phase 3 results suggest at 94.5% reduction in risk of contracting the virus once fully vaccinated. 

Different vaccines are proving to have different efficacy rates. Some manufacturers are reporting 90% to 95% protection at 1-2 weeks after receiving the final dose. At this time, experts do not know how long protection will last or whether a booster shot will be necessary after, after the initial recommended vaccine dose(s). It is also important to not that once you are vaccinated although you may be better protected, you can still be a carrier to infect others. 

The vaccine is still being studied, so it has not been determined yet how frequently we will have to receive the vaccine to continue immunity. We may have to receive it annually, like we do the influenza vaccine, but immunity may last longer, and we may only need to receive boosters periodically. It will take time for the FDA and the CDC to determine how frequently the vaccine will need to be given. 

Yes. Experts are still learning about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions. The vaccine is not expected to be 100% effective. At this time, CDC recommends that everyone continue to use all tools to protect ourselves and others from getting and spreading the virus. Wear a mask or cloth face coverings help when you can't avoid being in the same space as others. Wearing a mask or face covering does not mean you don't need to stay a safe distance from others, it is still necessary to keep you and others safe.  

Yes, the CDC has not considered changing any testing requirements at this time, so you will continue to be tested at the frequency we are currently adhering to. It will take time for the FDA and CDC to determine when the current testing requirements can be modified. The ingredients in the vaccine will not cause you to test positive for COVID-19. 

COVID-19 vaccines do not use the live virus and cannot give you COVID-19. The vaccine does not alter your DNA. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an immune response without having to experience sickness.  

Yes. Immunity from the COVID-19 vaccine may last longer than the natural immunity you get if you've already had COVID-19.

People who currently have COVID-19 should not be vaccinated while being sick.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone who meets state guidelines.  No one will be asked to pay out of pocket for the vaccine.  Medicare and some insurance companies are paying a small administration fee, so we will collect insurance information if available.  Whether or not we receive third-party reimbursement, no individual who receives a vaccine will be expected to pay any out of pocket cost.