Protect Arlington: Important Information About Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine at the Community Vaccination Center in Arlington
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
Posted on April 13, 2021, April 13, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine What to Know

Editor's Note: Due to state and federal guidance issued on Tuesday, April 13, the Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine will temporarily not be administered at the Community Vaccination Center at AT&T Stadium. Pfizer second doses will still be available at this site in Arlington to those who are due a second dose.

The Arlington Fire Department, FEMA, the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and the Department of Defense are operating a COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center as part of the City’s ongoing effort to #ProtectArlington and Tarrant County during the coronavirus pandemic.

The City of Arlington, working in cooperation with Tarrant County Public Health, is continually working to make the public vaccination process run as efficiently as possible over the next several months.

Below are some frequently asked questions designed to help you navigate the Tarrant County Public Health online registration process and know what to expect if you are receiving your COVID-19 vaccines at the Community Vaccination Center.

I’m interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in Tarrant County. What’s my first step?

To receive the COVID-19 vaccine, people must register online through the Tarrant County Public Health website. As of March 29, 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to anyone over the age of 16 in Texas.

Please click here to visit the TCPH vaccine sign up and eligibility screening website.

After verifying a person’s eligibility, Tarrant County Public Health will send that person a confirmation email that outlines where he or she should go for their vaccine and during what date and window of time they should arrive. Because people have to register using individual email addresses, it is possible that people from the same household may be assigned to different vaccine locations.

I have received a confirmation email that I will be receiving my vaccine at AT&T Stadium. Do I need to show up before my appointment window?

The Community Vaccination Center is typically in operation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. People who are notified to arrive and receive a single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or their second Pfizer vaccine at the site are encouraged to arrive within their appointment window.

Who is currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?

As of March 29, 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to anyone over the age of 16 in Texas.

What should I expect when I arrive at the Community Vaccination Center in Arlington on my appointment date?

When you arrive at the venue, your Tarrant County Public Health registration will be validated prior to entry to the parking lot. Please bring photo ID for each person who is registered to receive a vaccine.

If you show up at the venue without registering in advance, you’ll be provided information for how to register on the Tarrant County Public Health website, which will allow you to be scheduled for a future date based on vaccine supply and state vaccination guidelines. Thank you for your understanding.

What is the vaccination process like?

Once a person arrives, he or she will have their temperature scanned and will be provided information about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine or the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Masks are required. Even with an appointment, it is likely that a person will have to wait in line until a vaccination station is available. Personnel are available to assist people to complete the simple site registration process. After receiving a vaccine, each person will receive a physical shot record to keep and then will be guided to a waiting area to rest for a 15-minute period.

What if I or one of my loved ones is unable to stand in line for an extended period of time?

There are a limited number of wheelchairs on site and available for use to navigate the vaccination site. The City will make every effort to accommodate those who need additional assistance.

I missed my appointment for my second COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Community Vaccination Center when it was being held at Globe Life Field or Esports Stadium Arlington. What do I do?

If you received your first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Globe Life Field but have missed your scheduled appointment for a second dose, you can come on any date that the Community Vaccination Center at AT&T Stadium is confirmed to be open and operating. You should be able to confirm that the vaccine site is open by visiting the Arlington Fire Department’s Facebook page, calling the Arlington Fire Department at 817-459-5500 or calling the City's Action Center hotline at 817-459-6777. Please bring the shot record you were provided when you received your first COVID-19 vaccine shot at Globe Life Field. We are unable to reschedule missed appointments for first COVID-19 vaccines.

Does it matter where I receive my second dose?

After a person receives their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, they should expect to receive a call back from their first dose provider regarding their second dose. Each vaccine provider is supposed to get the appropriate amount of second doses to address the needs of people who got their first doses from them. Each vaccine provider may have a different call back system. Some can schedule your appointment right away, like a pharmacy or a doctor's office. Other entities like Public Health or Fire Departments who may be serving as a Mass Vaccination provider and may only give you a call 1-2 days ahead of time. Your white CDC card should have the appropriate due date recorded, based on the manufacturer of the vaccine you received, to help you with planning for your second dose. Typically, for the Pfizer vaccine, it is 21 days to your second dose and for the Moderna vaccine, it is 28 days.

It very important that you go back to the vaccine provider who administered the first shot. If you go to a different provider, it is possible you may not get the second dose or be sent to the back of a long waiting list. As the vaccine supply improves, more options may become available but the best option currently is to wait for a callback from your first dose provider and go back to them for your second dose.

What if I am not able to receive my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within the recommended interval because of the inclement weather?

According to the CDC: The second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval and a delay in vaccination is unavoidable, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. Click here for more information. 

How can I get a COVID-19 vaccine at Globe Life Field or AT&T Stadium?

The COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center, which previously operated at Globe Life Field and Esports Stadium Arlington and will now operate at AT&T Stadium from April 11 through May 18, is providing single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine shots to people who are already registered on the Tarrant County vaccine list. There is no need to register again. This site is jointly operated by the Texas Department of Emergency Management, the 1st Marine Logistics Group, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Arlington Fire Department and American Medical Response. The site will also administer second-dose Pfizer vaccines to individuals who originally received their first-dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Globe Life Field.

Where else can I find information on where the COVID-19 vaccine may be available?

Other entities in Arlington and Tarrant County are also providing COVID-19 vaccinations, including Tarrant County Public Health clinics, JPS clinics and individual pharmacies. For more information on where the COVID-19 vaccine may be available, please visit the Texas Department of Health and Human Services website

Does the City of Arlington expect this process to change over the coming months?

Possibly. Processes and procedures for the distribution of the vaccine may change due to vaccine availability and evolving vaccination protocols at the national and state level. Please continue to monitor the City of Arlington’s coronavirus website, the Arlington Fire Department's Facebook page, and Tarrant County Public Health’s coronavirus information site.

Coronavirus
News, Community, Public Safety, Fire