Why Dallas County Delayed Transfer of COVID Vaccine to Fair Park

When Margaret Thompson led her 88-year-old mother to get her COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park vaccination site in Dallas County, she expected to get in and out quite quickly.

For the first time, they were at the South Dallas hub just half an hour, “including the 15 minute wait time,” Thompson said.

On Tuesday, they arrived around 1:30 p.m. but were still waiting in line 2:30 hours later.

Thompson said they weren’t sure what to expect when they came in for the second shot – but “that wasn’t it.”

Dallas County was supposed to launch its multi-path vaccine transfer service on Tuesday, but a myriad of problems not only delayed its opening, but also caused another day of long wait times. Contributing factors – according to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins – were a temporary shortage of doses, colder-than-expected weather, and missing generators needed to properly store the vaccine, which requires a stable temperature after being thawed.

A rush of residents seeking their booster shots before the onset of cold weather this week and a new round of unauthorized appointments have also caused bottlenecks.

The site is slated to open at noon Wednesday, but cold weather forecast for the rest of the week could complicate vaccination efforts in Fair Park and in North Texas.

Frigid temperatures have already prompted at least one supplier in a neighboring county to temporarily suspend operations later this week. Denton County said Thursday it will shut down its Texas Motor Speedway site, which was operating as usual Tuesday, in Fort Worth.

Persistent problems

It was supposed to be the week the Dallas County Fair Park site got it all figured out.

The site opened a month ago this week, but it has seen setbacks from the start: technical issues with its registration site, mixed messages on how to book dates, and political struggles to find out. who should be vaccinated and in what order.

As the site faces its biggest week yet – 21,000 first and second doses scheduled – it has encountered a new set of problems.

Early Tuesday, it became clear to center staff that the generators needed to power equipment in the vaccine transit tents – located far from any electrical outlet – had not arrived. A primary concern for Dallas County officials: regulating the temperature of the vaccine. As of Tuesday evening, it was still not clear why the energy sources did not show up.

After canceling plans to open its extended drive-thru, Dallas County moved residents inside the Tower Building, using its existing vaccination setup. The county has implemented a limited drive-thru option.

Commissioner John Wiley Price, who represents southern Dallas County, was dismayed by another set of issues.

“It has nothing to do with the weather,” he said on Tuesday. “The forecasts are the same. This is called incompetence. “

Chris Van Deusen, the spokesperson for the state health department, acknowledged the state-wide confusion over the supply chain, especially amid recent changes by the federal government. State and local providers are required to order doses. But these deliveries can be staggered, creating a brief vacuum.

Van Deusen said the state was tracking 400,000 doses that were supposed to be delivered to hubs in Texas on Tuesday, including 9,000 at the Dallas County Fair Park site.

“Every day we get a little better,” he says.

Winter weather

There is no hope of mild weather over the next week, and vaccination center operators are already making changes.

Highs for much of this week are expected to be in the 1930s, with lows in the 20s. And by the weekend, lows could plunge among teens. When the troughs are in teens, a light wind is enough to make temperatures seem like single digits.

Jenkins said he would not hesitate to close the Fair Park site if conditions made it unsafe for residents to drive or for volunteers to travel there.

“We’re in Texas, so we’re not going to have too many days like this,” he said. “We will be more than able to catch up if we have to delay.”

City of Dallas moves check-in station to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from an open car park to a covered section. On Tuesday there were some short delays as people waited to get vaccinated.

The Parkland Health & Hospital drive-thru vaccination sites at Ellis Davis Field House and Eastfield College were ready to continue operating as planned. However, the sites will close if the wind chill drops below 20 degrees, a spokeswoman said.

Denton County, which staged one of the nation’s largest vaccination efforts last week, decided to shut down its hub on Thursday in anticipation of harsh winter conditions. No appointment had been scheduled, officials said. Operations are expected to resume Friday afternoon.

The Texans awaiting their second shot should look forward to additional information from the county.

“While we know that members of our community are eager to get vaccinated, the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers is of the utmost importance,” said Matt Richardson, Denton County director of health. , in a press release. “We hope the weather will be more cooperative on Friday for a safe, efficient and effective vaccination clinic.”

A Collin County spokesperson said in an email that its hub operator “absolutely plans to continue.”

Tarrant County officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Editors Jesus Jimenez, Everton Bailey Jr. and Charles Scudder contributed to this report.