SAN ANTONIO – COVID-19 vaccines are getting easier and easier to find in San Antonio and now they are being offered through a homebound service, which essentially delivers the vaccines to those in need.
“It’s very important, because I think if we want to ever, ever get back to any kind of normalcy, we need to get those vaccinations to the folks,” Chris Velasquez, homebound program manager said.
In an effort to vaccinate as many people as possible, paramedics were loading up early Monday morning for the homebound program.
“The homebound program is a COVID-19 vaccination program that’s really built and designed for folks that can’t really make it out to the community sites or to the Alamodome,” Velasquez said.
The program is sort of a vaccine delivery service to those in need.
The team works strategically with the San Antonio Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Metro Health District and other community partners throughout San Antonio and compiles a list. They then head out to the community to vaccinate.
“We launch from here and we give the first round until about noon and then we get the second round and then leave here around noon. And then they finish up the day probably about 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. and we give about a 1,000 to 1,200 home vaccinations a week,” Velasquez said.
The drive-through distribution site at the Alamodome is open Tuesday through Saturday, and is one of the most popular vaccination destinations across the city. But now there’s the the issue of people being hesitant to get the vaccine.
“In San Antonio, we’ve been fortunate to see good numbers. More than 50% of the eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. That’s more than a million. But we’re starting to reach that point where we need more people to get that vaccine so that we can get back to normal,” Laura Mayes, assistant director of government and public affairs said.
So now, the city is thinking more outside the box.
“What we’re trying to do is educate and inform residents that it’s a safe and effective vaccine that’s built on science. But the most fun way to do that is to work with local musicians and artists. So we’ve got some songs, music videos, murals that are coming out to our districts,” Mayes said.
If you are interested in taking part in the home bound program to have a vaccine brought to you – you can reach out via 311 or by clicking here.