Harris County to launch waiting list for coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday

HOUSTON – Harris County will launch a waiting list on Tuesday for people who want to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the list was intended to create a fair way of distributing and administering the vaccine.

“Getting a COVID-19 vaccine shouldn’t be like ‘The Hunger Games’,” Hidalgo said. “It shouldn’t be about who can turn on refresh the fastest in a browser.”

Hidalgo said the waitlist will be available on ReadyHarris.org or by calling 832-927-8787. The phone line will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

While anyone can get on the waiting list, only people eligible to receive the vaccine in phases 1A and 1B will be able to get the vaccine at this time, Hidalgo said. She said the system will not be a first come, first served system. She said eligible people will go through a system of randomization to ensure the administration process is fair. She said those currently ineligible will be contacted once they are eligible.

If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email. Once selected, you will receive another email with a personalized ID code asking you to schedule a time and date within 48 hours to receive the vaccine. If you register by phone and are selected, you will receive a phone call to make your appointment.

Hidalgo said Harris County Public Health has administered 27,426 vaccines to date and the county is receiving about 9,000 doses per week. She said that while county leaders are pushing for more doses, the wait list doesn’t mean the county has a huge stock of vaccines.

“The supply continues to be extremely limited,” Hidalgo said.

She also said the county was working on building six fixed vaccination sites, targeting areas with the highest number of covidy cases and underserved communities and neighborhoods.

You can watch a replay of Hidalgo’s press conference below: