Austin Public Health is closing its last mass COVID-19 vaccination center on Saturday.
The Old Sims Elementary Gymnasium, at 1203 Springdale Road, will offer vaccinations for all ages from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the clinic will close after that session.
At one point during winter and spring of 2021, Austin Public Health operated 12 mass vaccination clinics.
“We mobilized large-scale clinics in as little as 24 hours in areas historically known to have limited access to healthcare,” said Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup. “Then after providing first doses to thousands, staff turned around operations and did it again for the second dose. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a dedicated team whose hard work is still not done.”
COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available at local pharmacies and doctor’s offices and are free wherever people receive them.
More:COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 are finally here, but most parents aren’t jumping in line
In Travis County, 74% of people ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In Texas, 65.9% of of ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated.
Austin Public Health said it will continue mobile vaccination clinics for community groups, businesses and churches to host pop-up clinics. Those mobile vaccination clinics have focused on ZIP codes where vaccination rates have been lower.
“Our community’s effort to get vaccinated and protect themselves from COVID-19 has been invaluable in lowering the spread of COVID-19, preventing severe disease, hospitalizations and complications such as long COVID, diabetes or heart problems,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “The MVP (mobile vaccination program) will help us to reach those who are still in need of that protection.”
Where to get tested for COVID in Austin
Austin Public Health said it will continue to operate its free testing center at 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at Metz Elementary, 84 Robert T Martinez Jr. St.
The closing of the last mass vaccination clinic is happening days after the Travis County moved back into the medium level after a week hiatus in the low level on Thursday.
This week, Travis County hit 206.29 in transmission rate of COVID-19 cases. Anything above 200 puts a county in a medium range.
Hays, Williamson and Caldwell counties are also in the medium level. Bastrop County is in the low level.
Medium level encourages people who are up to date in vaccinations to wear a mask where social distancing is not possible and for people at higher risk to use precautions in public places.
Current COVID-19 status:After a week reprieve, Travis County back up to medium level on COVID-19 spread
Vaccines OK’d for most children
Everyone six months and older can now get vaccinated. Last week, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for youngest children were approved.
Everyone 5 years old and older is eligible to get vaccinated and eligible for a booster five months after the original series (two doses for mRNA vaccines for most people, three doses for immune compromised people). Adults 50 and older can get a second booster four months after their first booster.
Austin Public Health will continue to provide vaccines for people without insurance or with Medicaid through its Shots for Tots clinics at 405 W. Stassney Lane and 7500 Blessing Ave by appointment (512-972-5520).
You can find a vaccine provider near you at vaccines.gov or by texting your ZIP code to 438829.
Vaccination availability:Kids 6 months to 4 years now eligible for COVID vaccine. Here’s what you need to know.
Vaccinations can help prevent severe disease and death, experts say. That’s really the goal of the vaccines: preventing hospitalizations and death, while keeping hospitals available to non-COVID-19 patients.
If you’re not feeling well, take a COVID-19 test, either through Austin Public Health, your primary care doctor, a testing center or pharmacy or an at-home test (though, those are starting to be scarce again in Austin).
Austin Public Health has testing available 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at Metz Elementary, 84 Robert T Martinez Jr. St. Tests are free at that site.
You also can get free at-home tests to have on hand through the U.S. government, covid.gov/tests.
