Vaccine Progress in Bexar County: One-third of residents are fully vaccinated

SAN ANTONIO — We're tracking the latest numbers from the coronavirus pandemic as well as the vaccine efforts in San Antonio and across Texas.

Need a vaccine appointment? Click here for the latest information on local vaccine distribution with our ongoing Vaccine Tracker.

Vaccine Progress in Bexar County

Across Bexar County, just over 1.26 million vaccine doses have been administered, as of April 29. 

• 768,711 Bexar County residents have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, representing 49.5% of the county's population eligible to receive a vaccination.
• 524,774 Bexar County residents are fully vaccinated, representing 33.8% of the county's population eligible to receive a vaccination.
• 243,937 Bexar County residents (15.7%) have not yet received their second vaccine dose.

The Department of State Health Services defines "population" as residents who are 16 years of age or older; in Bexar County, this represents more than 1.55 million people. The CDC states that "when a high percentage of the community is immune to a disease (through vaccination and/or prior illness)," that community will have reached herd immunity, "making the spread of this disease from person to person unlikely."

83,541 vaccines were administered last week in Bexar County, according to DSHS; a total of 1.26 million vaccine doses have been administered in the county since vaccination efforts began 19 weeks ago.

Across Texas, 7.617 million residents are fully vaccinated. In total, the state has administered 17.897 million vaccine doses, as of April 29. Texas is one of 8 states with less than 26% of its population fully vaccinated, as of April 28:

Latest Coronavirus Numbers

Here are the latest numbers reported by Bexar County and state officials:

Bexar County (data as of Friday, April 30):

• 267 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 217,486.
• 0 new deaths were reported; the county's death toll remains at 3,354. 
• 230 patients currently hospitalized; 44 are on ventilators and 69 are in intensive care.

Metro Health reports new data at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Texas (data as of Sunday, May 2):

• 1,307 cases reported, including 919 new confirmed, 345 new probable, and 43 backlogged cases. More than 2.888 million Texans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
• 25 additional deaths were reported, raising the statewide death toll from virus complications to 49,303.
• 2,594 Texans were hospitalized Saturday, which is a decrease of 54 over the previous day.

More county case information is available through the Texas Department of Health Services COVID-19 dashboard.

Bexar County COVID-19 Trends

Last week's update of the Warning Signs and Progress Indicators for Bexar County saw Bexar County holding steady at the low-risk level. The positivity rate dropped slightly to 1.9%, as of Monday, April 26.

The county's seven-day moving average of daily COVID-19 is 235 cases per day, marking the eighth straight day where that number has been greater than 200. The seven-day moving average had plummeted to 172 on April 20.

Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

Experts determined there was consistent evidence these conditions increase a person's risk, regardless of age:

• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

Human coronaviruses are usually spread... 

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
• Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Help stop the spread of coronavirus

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Eat and sleep separately from your family members
• Use different utensils and dishes
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
• If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.

Find a Testing Location

City officials recommend getting a COVID-19 test if you experience fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

A self-screening tool is available to see if you need a test.

Here's a Testing Sites Locator to help you find the testing location closest to you in San Antonio.