Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo announces the process for COVID 19 vaccination appointments at a mini clinic scheduled at the American Bank Center on Feb. 2. Behind her are council members John Martinez (left), Ben Molina, and Mike Pusley. Screen Capture Image from Corpus Christi City Hall news conference Feb. 1, 2021
A phone line for senior citizens to register for COVID-19 vaccines at the American Bank Center opens at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1. The first 250 callers to 888-728-0018 can register for an appointment to receive the vaccine at the American Bank Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd., in the first mini drive-through vaccine clinic in the city. Another 250 can register online at cctexas.com/coronavirus. The clinic is set for 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2.
“We are excited to announce a city vaccine drive through,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said at a news conference in city hall Monday morning. “This phone number will not be available at all times. It is open based on supply. After we fill the appointments for the amount of vaccine we have, it will close down.”
The same phone number will be used as part of the Save our Seniors program, which will make appointments for homebound seniors to receive vaccines. The city and county are expecting to open the lines for those appointments on Monday, Feb. 8 and Monday, Feb.15.
“It’s extremely important to know that if we do not receive a shipment one week, we will not be opening the phone line for registration,” Guajardo continued.
The number of vaccines coming into the Corpus Christi area should increase over the next three weeks, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said. So far, around 18,000 vaccines have been delivered at seven drive-through mega clinics at the RMB Fairgrounds in Robstown. Around 20,000 vaccines have been delivered overall in Nueces County.
“The goal is to beat this virus at its own game,” she said. “It works fast so we have to be faster.”
The drive-through mega clinics at the fairground are among the most efficient in the state for vaccine distribution, Canales said. The joint city and county effort will also be setting up mobile clinics in small towns in the county, as well as on Padre Island.
Nueces County has asked the state to provide enough vaccines to distribute 25,000 on a five-day basis, or 30,000 on a seven-day basis.
The Feb. 2 mini clinic at the American Bank Center is for senior citizens who find it difficult to sit through long lines at the first-come, first-served clinic in Robstown, Guajardo said in her concluding remarks. Those who have an appointment should arrive at 6:30 a.m. to go through registration. Shot distribution will begin at 8 a.m.
“You must bring a QR code or password to the appointment,” she said.
Fourteen operators will be on the phone lines at 1 p.m. Feb. 1. Also, Guajardo promised, the web site has been fixed.
“It will not crash this time,” she said.
