DSHS pop-up events at Walmart encourage vaccination

The Texas Department of State Health Services kicks off a new round of pop-up events today encouraging everyone 12 years old and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The events, at 18 Walmart locations across the state this month, feature a 16-foot video wall showing vaccine facts and messages from local spokespeople along with other attractions like a “Take the Shot” basketball game.

People who want to get a shot can get one on site. Walmart is offering free COVID-19 vaccines at all its pharmacy locations with no appointment needed.

The current series of events focuses on smaller communities and rural areas, where vaccination rates have typically been lower, along with urban ZIP codes with large numbers of unvaccinated residents.

Texas providers have administered nearly 32 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than 16 million people. About 15 million Texans are now fully vaccinated, 62 percent of the eligible population. Vaccination rates by age group range from about 80 percent fully vaccinated for people 65 and older to 47 percent for people ages 12 to 17.

The DSHS fall pop-ups will last for four hours each day beginning this evening in Killeen, followed by stops in Mexia, Fort Worth, Dallas and Tyler through the weekend with additional stops through Oct. 25. More information on COVID vaccine in Texas, including links to locations where vaccine is available at covidvaccine.texas.gov.

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(News Media Contact: pressofficer@dshs.texas.gov)