Appointments are still open for this weekend, March 26-28, for Austin residents to get initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. For the final three weekends of this Austin vaccine rollout, vaccinations will be for second doses only.

Anyone 18 years or older who lives in Austin is eligible. The vaccine will be given at no cost, but anyone receiving the vaccine must have an appointment and must provide an address in Austin. Individuals who make an appointment and cannot provide an Austin address will be turned away, even if an appointment was scheduled. No health insurance is required.

This weekend’s initial doses will be given from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School, 116 N. Central Ave. Austin residents can schedule a vaccine appointment by visiting this link at Rush University Medical Center or by calling 312-563-0767.

If residents received a first dose at Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave., they will get second doses administered by Loretto Hospital. At this time, Loretto officials are unsure of where the follow-up shots will be given; those with appointments are advised to wait for an email confirmation or to call 773-996-7937 to check.

Otherwise, all second-dose shots will all be administered at Circle Rock Charter School. Follow-up doses, given only to people with existing appointments who already have their first shots, will be administered by personnel from Rush and PCC Wellness Center. Second doses will be given out the weekends of April 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18.

This effort to reach residents of Chicago neighborhoods that have been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic is co-sponsored by community groups such as Austin Coming Together and the City of Chicago through its Protect Chicago Plus initiative. You can learn more about the initiative at this website. The goal is to vaccinate 10,000 Austin residents during six weeks of vaccine distribution.

Officials at the two sites also are seeking volunteers to help greet patients, take temperatures, and assist with patient flow — no medical experience is necessary. Volunteers will receive hospital-grade masks and face shields. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more and register at this website.