Just minutes after being announced, appointments for 1,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to be given at the newest mega-site in Corpus Christi were filled. On the morning of Thursday, Feb. 4, those 1,000 shots will go into the arms of people ages 65 years and older at the American Bank Center. The vaccination clinic is a joint effort between Driscoll Children’s Hospital, the city of Corpus Christi, and Nueces County. 
“We are a lucky county. We have gotten a lot more vaccine out than a lot of other counties based on our population,” said Dr. Mary Dale Peterson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Driscoll Children’s Hospital, at a news briefing in City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 2. “We are going to get this out to you as quickly as we possibly can.” 
The hospital had requested 2,000 vaccines from the state but only received 1,000 this week. More are coming, officials promised, and more opportunities for getting the vaccine will soon be available. 
“This is a very interesting new option with appointments available by telephone and online,” Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said at the briefing. “That is our future. Now that we have more vaccine coming to our community, it is important for us to give more opportunities to see our loved ones get the vaccination.” 
The downtown vaccination clinic operates much differently than the mega-drive-through clinics at the fairgrounds in Robstown, where up to 5,000 vaccinations can be given on a first-come, first-served basis. 
At the American Bank Center, vaccinations are by appointment only, and people have to park and walk in. Wheelchair access is available. Parking will be set up on the bay side of the convention center. Everyone is asked to use the front entrance. 
Another option expected to open soon in the area are pharmacies. The federal government announced this week that 1 million vaccine doses will be shipped to 11 states, including Texas, on Feb. 11. In Texas, 38,000 doses are expected to be distributed in designated CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
The goal is to eventually roll out vaccines to about 40,000 pharmacies in drug stores and grocery stores across the nation. This will be in addition to the number of vaccines already being sent to the states for distribution. 
Appointments for vaccinations at the American Bank Center will open up as vaccines become available. Visit the website at driscollchildrens.org/covid19vaccine or call 844-977-1477 for the latest information. 
Senior citizens may also call the city’s newly established COVID hot line at 888-728-0018 for information on other vaccination opportunities.