Harris County to Create COVID-19 Vaccine Wait List to Handle Massive Demand



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Harris County will launch a waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday to ensure vaccines are administered fairly among eligible residents.

Instead of the first come, first served approach used by other distributors, including the city of Houston, the county system will randomly choose recipients for appointments. Elderly residents will become a priority, Harris County Public Health said.

“Let me say it frankly: getting the COVID-19 vaccine shouldn’t be like the ‘Hunger Games’,” County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “It shouldn’t be about who can turn on refresh the fastest in a browser.”

Only people who meet the criteria for Phases 1A – first responders and health workers – and 1B – residents 65 years of age or older or with certain medical conditions – will receive appointments.

Registration will be available on readyharris.org; residents can also call (832) 927-8787 to register. Operators are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. All Texans are eligible.

The health department said its distribution plan was in line with state guidelines. Dallas County backtracked on a plan to focus vaccination efforts in certain low-income zip codes after the state threatened to halt vaccine supply.

To date, Harris County has administered more than 27,000 doses of the vaccine, less than the capacity of Minute Maid Park. Hidalgo said the county received around 9,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine each week.

People who are not eligible for categories 1A or 1B can still register. Vaccines may not be available for most residents, however, until May or June.

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