VACCINES

The virus caused major disruption to our lives and, understandably, many people were just hoping it would go away. Unfortunately, it hasn’t. And it probably won’t.

Summer is almost over, and now is the time to ensure your child is healthy and back-to-school ready.

There’s finally good news in the fight against fentanyl. Researchers in Houston are developing a powerful weapon against the synthetic opioid — a vaccine that stops fentanyl from killing people.

Services are still being offered to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not mandate immunization requirements for vaccines in schools despite recent reports that suggest otherwise.

Dr. Bryan Alsip, the Chief Medical Officer with University Health, answered some commonly asked questions.

San Antonio has received 1,000 doses of the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to help combat the growing outbreak.

Comal ISD will be hosting two student immunization clinics on Monday, Aug. 8.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is holding several pop-up vaccine clinics this week to provide vaccines needed for school children and COVID-19 shots.

The FDA advisers give the green light to Moderna and Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under the age of five. According to the White House, shots could be ready as soon as next week.

During Minority Health Month, communities nationwide are shining the spotlight on disparities in health care for minority populations. Metro Health is doing the same in San Antonio, putting its main focus on immunizations.

Walmart Supercenter stores are hosting a Wellness Day event Saturday where customers will be able to get free health and vision screenings, low-cost immunizations and flu shots.

After more than 226,000 shots, the city is shuttering its mass vaccination site at the Alamodome amid declining demand.

Dr. Bryan Alsip, the chief medical officer with University Health System answered some frequently asked questions about COVID-19 boosters, how our immune system works and the latest mask guidance.

University Health Epidemiologist Dr. Jason Bowling answers commonly asked questions about the omicron variant, testing and vaccines.

University Health Epidemiologist Dr. Jason Bowling answers questions about whether COVID and the COVID-19 vaccine affects fertility.

A researcher at Texas Biomed has helped develop the Pfizer and Novavax vaccines and is now working around the clock to help develop boosters, new vaccines and therapies that address new, more threatening variants.

People began lining up early Monday for a chance to get COVID-19 vaccines and tests, courtesy of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

Parents of students in Northside ISD are concerned as San Antonio's largest school district comes back from winter break.

With the number of COVID cases in children on the rise, local pediatricians are encouraging parents to vaccinate their children.

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters, opening a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine to people as young as age 16.

With the emergence of a new COVID variant, experts say not to panic because we have tools to protect against it.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is urging people to either get vaccinated for COVID-19 or utilize masks during their Thanksgiving celebrations to stay safe this holiday season.

A handful of children in San Antonio ages 5-11 got their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine early Wednesday morning.

In this episode, we’re hearing directly from some of the local scientists behind crucial COVID-19 research that’s been done during this pandemic.

San Antonio and Bexar County residents have an opportunity to get the flu shot for free starting this weekend.

The head of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, which helped to develop that vaccine, says booster shots aren’t as important as getting people fully vaccinated in the first place.

The latest surge of COVID-19 cases has left hospitals in Comal County feeling a familiar pinch as they struggle with capacity issues.

The increase in reported vaccinations, which equates to 9,065 more people than the week before, comes as elected and public health officials have been urging unvaccinated residents to get their shots amid a third surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

As hospitalization numbers continued to shoot up Thursday, driven by unvaccinated residents, hospitals in the San Antonio area are feeling the squeeze.

A community agency continues its effort in administering COVID-19 vaccinations for the homeless

Uvalde Health officials are taking steps to increase the vaccination rates as an increase in cases continues. Health officials say they're working with area health providers, schools and other community members to make the vaccines more readily available.

In addition to mega vaccine sites like the Alamodome, Metro Health started facilitating pop up sites all over the city in February. Those small pop up sites have been so successful, the effort has now ramped up significantly.

A restaurant owner rescinds an employee COVID-19 memo after receiving threats.

Experts say it could be 2023 or later before COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in some countries.

It's not yet known if COVID-19 vaccines can affect your period, but researchers are starting to study the issue.

COVID-19 vaccines are getting easier and easier to find in San Antonio and now they are being offered through a homebound service, which essentially delivers the vaccines to those in need.

With all the discussion about COVID-19 vaccine production, distribution, side effects and effectiveness, it’s fair to wonder one thing about modern-day vaccines as a whole: What goes into them?

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, there still is a list of common vaccines that kids of all ages should receive, according to most doctors.

Vials of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, set to be administered in our community, are on hold as medical facilities wait for word from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

First- and second-graders line up for Salk Polio vaccine shots on April 23, 1955. Regardless of where anyone stands on the matter, we know that vaccinations have been protecting us from diseases for decades. In 1921, the United States recorded 206,000 cases, which resulted in 15,520 deaths, according to the History of Vaccines website. According to the CDC, polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the U.S. Since 1979, there have been no polio cases that originated in the U.S.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio City Council members want a better way to sign up for vaccinations, but it’s not clear what form that might end up taking. The Community Health and Equity Committee discussed the need for easier vaccine registrations during a Tuesday afternoon briefing from the county’s largest vaccine providers, including the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, WellMed, University Health, and UT Health-San Antonio. Some council members, led by District 9 Councilman John Courage, have expressed support for a central registry or waitlist system. Some of the vaccine providers at Tuesday’s meeting spoke against the idea of a registry. “I don’t think any of us are opposed to a single registry, but it will come with problems,” said Dr. Robert Leverence, the chief medical officer for UT Health San Antonio, which began offering vaccine appointments to the public last week.

SAN ANTONIO – They’re being called “vaccine angels.”All over the country, volunteers are spending hours trying to get seniors and the disabled registered for the COVID-19 vaccine. When vaccines became available, Dalila Chapman and her three friends Grace Rea, Linda Compia, and Diana Pulido helped their older family members get registered. “We started talking about other people who may not have family members who could get them registered,” Chapman said. Full Screen 1 / 7 Delila Chapman has become a "vaccine angel" helping eligible family members and other seniors sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. “You just gotta keep trying,” Chapman said.

When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)NEW YORK – When will children be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? Pfizer and Moderna expect to start studies in children 11 and younger later this year. Read previous Viral Questions:How would COVID-19 vaccine makers adapt to variants? AdHow do we know the COVID-19 vaccines are safe?

The sisters of Spanish King Felipe VI have acknowledged on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, that they were administered COVID-19 vaccines during a visit to the United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)MADRID – Two untimely coronavirus jabs have dealt another blow to the reputation of Spain's royals. The vaccination by the king’s sisters was widely criticized across Spain. The sisters of Spain’s King Felipe VI are no longer part of the official royal household, which said that the 53-year-old Felipe, Queen Letizia and their two daughters have not yet been vaccinated. Health Minister Carolina Darias, from the senior, Socialist partner of the governing coalition, made a distinction between Felipe and his sisters.

SAN ANTONIO – A third COVID-19 vaccine could soon be on the market to aid in the fight against the ongoing pandemic, and San Antonio leaders say they’re optimistic about having more options available for the public. Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine is easier to store and comes in one shot. AdCoronavirus update San Antonio, Jan. 29: Leaders report 1,545 new COVID-19 cases, 19 deathsJohnson and Johnson’s single-dose vaccine provides an advantage over other manufacturers, making it easier to reach more people. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said adding more supply to the market in any way through FDA-approved vaccines would be a good thing. AdThe FDA could sign off on Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine by the end of February.

Can COVID-19 vaccines be mixed and matched? The COVID-19 vaccines rolling out in the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world so far require two shots given a few weeks apart. In the U.S. where Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being distributed, health officials say the vaccines are not interchangeable. But without any studies, vaccine doses should not be mixed, said Naor Bar-Zeev, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins University. Read previous Viral Questions:Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve had the virus?

We thought it’d be interesting to look through the Getty Images archive, at photos of vaccination efforts from years past. Wellbee's first assignment was to sponsor the Sabin Type II oral polio vaccine campaigns across the United States. Free vaccinations were to be handed out at all city hospitals, health stations, city police stations and at the Department of Health. (CDC/Meridith Hickson/Getty Images)Leo Casey watches aghast as Charles Buzine, 6, receives a shot of polio vaccine. (CDC via Getty)A polio vaccine is tested at the Glaxo Laboratories in Sefton Park, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, Jan. 19, 1956.

It might have crossed your mind already: What might the fall look like when flu season hits, and were still dealing with COVID-19? Because of that, experts say, it will be more important than ever to get a flu vaccine. Experts say this could change as more is learned about the number of people who are infected who have mild illnesses. Is it possible that a flu vaccine could protect me against COVID-19? While the CDC is adamant that getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, it still encourages everyone 6 months of age and older to get one yearly.

SAN ANTONIO – Measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps -- decades ago, these childhood diseases would strike fear because of their long-term scarring and the potential for death. Rob Sanders, a pediatrician and the associate medical director for PediExpress: Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic that is part of University Health System, said vaccinations are running about 50% behind. “We vaccinate against diseases that historically have really hurt, if not unfortunately killed, a lot of people and a lot of children,” Sanders said. That causes worry that childhood diseases could find a foothold again among children once they begin to mingle in classrooms and playgrounds. “Of course, our staff will be wearing the appropriate protective equipment while they’re working, and they will have very limited interaction with anybody else other than their family and the staff,” Sanders said.

Which vaccines do adults need? Published: December 31, 2019, 6:33 pmEvery year, at least 45,000 adults in the U.S. die from diseases that can be prevented with a vaccine. Too few adults are protected against these deadly diseases, not necessarily because they don't want to get the vaccines, but because they don't even know they need them.