COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: What to Know

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: What to Know

Welcome to the UTHealth and UT Physicians COVID-19 vaccine information page, where you can find details about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and answers to frequently asked questions.
Distribution of COVID-19 vaccine
UT Physicians, the clinical practice of McGovern Medical school at UTHealth, is distributing COVID-19 vaccine to at-risk groups by invitation only following state and federal guidance. Based upon the number of doses we are receiving, we are sending out communications to patients.
At-risk patients who have seen a UT Physicians primary or specialty care doctor in the last 18 months will be eligible for the vaccine. We are currently notifying eligible UT Physicians patients via text message and email to schedule their vaccine.
Have questions?
In the section below, please read the answers to frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The answers have been provided by our physicians who are on the faculty at McGovern Medical School.
Invite process by text, email or a call placed to you by the practice
UT Physicians clinics are experiencing a high number of calls regarding the vaccine. We ask that patients please wait for their invitation to schedule an appointment.
Special Notice
UTHealth received notification on Jan. 16, that we have been named a COVID-19 Vaccine Hub in Harris County by the Texas Department of State Health Services. We are waiting for more information and arrival of vaccine shipments from the state and will provide updates as available.
Patient Resources
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
- The FDA approval process, even in an EUA situation, prioritizes health and safety.
- Both the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine should not be administered to individuals with known history of a severe allergic reaction to previous vaccines, to any component of the vaccine, or to the first dose of this vaccine, without additional clinical evaluation.
- Immunocompromised people, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response.
- Adverse reactions reported in vaccine trials were mild and included: injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, injection site swelling, injection site redness, nausea, malaise (generally not feeling well), and lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes).
- There is a remote chance that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination.
- Yes, eventually. Though several steps have been taken to streamline the process and reduce regulatory obstacles, the underlying full approval process remains the same. Currently, the FDA has granted “Emergency Use Authorization” (EUA) for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. EUA occurs if there’s evidence that strongly suggests patients have benefitted from a treatment or test and the treatment is safe, but not all regulatory steps have been completed. Other vaccines that are in the pipeline likely will also be granted EUA before receiving full approval.
- The FDA, state health departments, drug producers, and independent physicians and researchers will monitor and track a wide variety of data once the vaccine is available to continue to learn about the drugs’ safety and effectiveness.
- The clinical trials showed that a two-dose model was most effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- For the Moderna vaccine, a second dose is required 28 days after the first dose. The Pfizer vaccine requires a second dose 21 days after the first. This will be scheduled at your first vaccine appointment.