Houston Methodist will soon notify patients to make vaccine appointments

HOUSTON – Houston Methodist said Thursday that certain patients will soon be receiving notifications to schedule appointments for their coronavirus admission.

Under a plan posted on the Hospital System website, patients who have seen a primary care physician or specialist in the past two years will be eligible for the vaccine for the general public.

Officials said they will soon begin notifying patients via text message in the following order:

1. Patients 75 years of age or older.
2. Patients 65 to 74 years old.
3. Patients less than 65 years of age who have at least one Class 1 condition or at least two co-morbid Class 2 conditions.

Class 1 conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease (congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy), obesity (BMI 30+), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, solid organ transplant, type I or II diabetes mellitus.

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Class 2 conditions include asthma, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants.

The vaccine was first rolled out to primary health care workers and people in long-term care facilities as part of Phase 1A.

On Wednesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said vaccine providers could start administering the vaccine to stage 1B people.

Officials have said anyone who thinks they fall into one of the groups should contact their health care provider to determine if they can get the vaccine.

Dr. James McCarthy, chief physician executive at Memorial Hermann Hospital, provides insight into the status of the Houston coronavirus pandemic and how the vaccine will be rolled out.