The new COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in San Antonio.
It provides protection against and targets the KP.3 and KP.2 COVID variants, known as “FLiRT variants” for their mutations.
Everyone, including children 6 months and up, should get an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to restore and enhance protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new vaccine is available at some San Antonio pharmacies, including some Walgreens and CVS locations. Check with your local pharmacy to confirm availability.
In July, University Health temporarily paused vaccinations until new vaccines arrived, it said. It has now resumed offering the vaccine at the following five walk-in clinics, open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
- Medical Center Pavilion Pharmacy at 4647 Medical Dr.
- Robert B. Green Campus at 903 W. Martin St.
- Southeast Pharmacy at 1055 Ada St.
- Southwest Pharmacy at 2121 SW. 36th St.
- Texas Diabetes Institute at 701 S. Zarzamora St.
“We’ve moved away from the strains of the virus we were seeing in the middle of last year. The new 2024-25 vaccine more effectively protects against the mutations that are making it so contagious and infectious right now,” said Dr. Jason Bowling, director of epidemiology at University Health and infectious disease physician with UT Health San Antonio.
The cost of the new COVID vaccines is covered by most insurances, Medicare and Medicaid. The city’s Metropolitan Health District also offers COVID vaccines free of cost to anyone.
San Antonio no longer reports the number of positive COVID infections, but University Health said in a press release that it is seeing an increase in people testing positive.
Anyone who got a COVID-19 vaccine should wait three months to get an updated shot, Bowling recommended. If you recently tested positive, immunity may protect you, but still plan on getting the updated vaccine in three months for the best protection.
The updated COVID vaccine can be administered with the annual flu shot. Flu season typically peaks from December to March.
