SAN ANTONIO – More than 1,000 people lined up Monday to roll up their sleeves to get a COVID -19 vaccine at the Alamodome.
The spots to get vaccinated were very difficult to get as appointments filled up in just six minutes Saturday, when registration opened for the 9,000 vaccinations available for San Antonio residents for phases 1A and 1B.
Reannon Rodriguez, a Memorial High School vice principal, was lucky to secure a spot to get vaccinated. Rodriguez said getting the vaccine is a proud moment for her because she is ready to get back to her students safely.
“Just continuing to work regularly with my students, my teachers, my community, just doing your part to stay safe,” Rodriguez said.
While Rodriguez was lucky to secure a spot, other residents said they had problems getting a vaccine despite thinking they had successfully registered.
Scott Pope showed KSAT a print out from the city’s website that confirmed his appointment.
“So I waited all through the line to get in, and then they said I didn’t have an appointment. Somehow they didn’t have it on the computer,” Pope said.
Organizers said the glitch was most likely due to the high volume of people visiting the website.
Organizers said one way to know for sure that you successfully registered on the city’s computer system is if you received a confirmation email with a QR code, which proves you have an appointment.
The San Antonio Fire Department set up a separate mobile line on site for those who can’t stand in line or are elderly and have a handicap sticker on their car. SAFD personnel check the paperwork and vaccinate residents on the spot in their vehicle.
SAFD Chief Charles Hood said he is proud that the rollout has been going relatively smooth and knows that any kinks will be worked out.
“Overall in a situation like this, you are going to have some technical glitches and challenges. We had a few of those, but as far as those vaccinating, those who have to stay in their vehicles who can’t stand or move around, those pieces have been going well,” Hood said.
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