COVID-19 Information

People can find vaccine sites as well as investigate COVID-19 Vaccine Information by clicking on this link:  Texas Health and Human Services which offers the latest information on vaccines and treatments in development and the distribution across Texas.

Another vaccine resource for appointments or walk-ins may be this City of Houston’s Health Department’s link: COVID-19 vaccine clinics/.

DSHS announced all Texans age 5 and older are eligible to receive COVID-19 Vaccines

For moderately or severe immunocompromised patients, you must have received three primary doses before receiving the new booster vaccine. 

All other patients must have received two primary doses before receiving the booster.

• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Moderna

Side effects:

Pfizer-BioNTech

• The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, followed by tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever, according to the FDA.
• In the United Kingdom, two health care workers reported severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) after being vaccinated; two health care workers in Alaska reported a serious allergic reaction after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
• In the U.S. trial, four people who received the vaccine developed Bell’s palsy, which causes temporary paralysis in facial muscles

Moderna

• The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, followed by tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and chills, an FDA analysis found.
• Three trial participants who received the vaccine developed Bell’s palsy.

Significance: The side effects are similar for each vaccine. William Moss, a physician and executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, points out that the number of Bell’s palsy cases in both trials is “very small and likely just represents chance,” but says “going forward we’ll just need to monitor more carefully and just make sure we’re looking for Bell’s palsy and make sure that it’s not related to the vaccine.”

When it comes to the anaphylactic reactions exhibited in Great Britain, one of the participants had a history of allergic reactions. U.S. federal officials have warned health care providers not to give the vaccine to anyone with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to any part of the vaccine, a standard caution for all vaccines. As with the Bell’s palsy cases, officials are expected to watch for such reactions.

How many shots?

INITIAL (Primary)

Pfizer-BioNTech

• Two shots of the vaccine, given 21 days apart, are required for it to be fully effective.

Moderna

• Two shots are required, 28 days apart.

BOOSTER

For moderately or severe immunocompromised patients, you must have received three primary doses before receiving the new booster vaccine. 

All other patients must have received two primary doses before receiving the booster.

Swab testing for MCH patients may be performed through your vehicle’s window – only after scheduling an appointment with your physician.

For additional testing information, please scroll down this page to: TESTING RELATED TO COVID-19 .

Your doctor’s office will call you with all COVID-19 results.

Follow your physician’s instructions for treatment!

Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.

• Keep track of your symptoms.
• If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.

Texas Medical Association offers the following:

TMA Guides and FAQs

Symptom Tracker

Yes, each individual requesting a test needs his or her own doctor’s order and appointment.

It is best to call and consult with your doctor.

Please call your doctor’s office if you need to reschedule.

Consider monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Testing for non-MCH patients can be located by clicking on this resource:
Test Locations

Visit HoustonHealth.org or call 832-393-4220 to find other nearby testing or vaccination site.

Masks are optional in most* areas of the building.

*Masks are required in the Infusion area and for staff, patients, and visitors who are coughing or exhibiting respiratory symptoms.

Thank you for your cooperation.

In our entrance, elevators, and waiting rooms.

All patient exam rooms are disinfected between each patient visit. All rooms, equipment, and surface areas that are being touched (counter-tops, doorknobs, exam chairs, computers, etc.) are disinfected frequently throughout each day.

A combination of MERV 13 air filters and UV lighting is used to remove 1.0 – 3.0 micron size particles from the Clinic’s air (Viral droplet nuclei is accepted to be in the range of 1.0 – 5.0 microns).

The air conditioning system in our building was designed with UV lighting as a method to fight germs, mold and viruses. These UV lights are installed on every floor of the building and are on 24/7.  Additionally UV light sanitizing portable equipment is used throughout the Clinic.

The physicians and satellite clinical personnel (RN /LVN /MA) will be wearing full PPE to include gowns, gloves, and face/eye shields with masks.

In addition to the daily disinfecting of all patient exam rooms, manual disinfecting occurs between each patient visit.  A portable UV Light is used in each room for 30 minutes as an additional precaution.

In order to reduce the risk for transmission of airborne infectious diseases, the Satellite Clinic has been re-engineered to mechanically provide a negative pressure environment, which is commonly used for infection control to ensure infectious germs are not spread through an air conditioning system. Negative pressure causes more air to be removed from the room than that which is allowed into the room.

As clean air flows into the Satellite Clinic, existing air is exhausted, thru a hepa filter, to the outside, preventing re-circulation of this air into any part of the Clinic building. This non-re-circulation of air is to further protect patients, physicians, and Clinic staff.