HOUSTON — The Houston Health Department is taking new appointments for Saturday's COVID-19 vaccination site at Minute Maid Park.
The department said on Friday they received an additional 8,200 doses of the vaccine, making it possible to open more appointment slots.
The vaccines are still only available to those who meet the state's Phase 1A and Phase 1B criteria.
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Thursday that Minute Maid Park will serve as a COVID-19 vaccination mega site Saturday, Jan. 16 for people who have a scheduled appointment.
The mayor said the Houston Health Department is contacting people who have appointments to inform them of the new location.
Health officials said appointments are based on vaccine availability, and current appointments may be adjusted based on the department’s allotment.
The mayor said he expects more vaccine spots to open next week adding that mega-sites have to have at least 3,000 doses before opening. Another will open soon.
The mayor explained he told the Health Department to give out the vaccines as soon as they get them and to not hold them for later.
"It doesn't do us any good for these vaccines to be on the shelf or just waiting for next week,” Turner said during a briefing Thursday. “The virus is not waiting and because the virus is not waiting, I don't want us to wait. So my plan is you send them, we get them, we dispense them."