One million doses of COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive tomorrow in Texas for all adults, state announces

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Anyone over the age of 16 will be allowed to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas starting Monday after the state is expected to receive more than a million first doses, according to the Texas State Department of Health. Services.

The ministry said it was allocating more than 800,000 doses to 779 providers in 202 counties. More than 200,000 additional first doses should be made available to pharmacies and health centers.

While eligibility is open to all adults, the DSHS has asked providers to prioritize people 80 and over when making appointments, putting them immediately on the front line.

In addition to the first doses, the state is also ordering 587,950 doses to be used as second doses for people vaccinated for the first time weeks ago.

“We are getting closer to 10 million doses delivered in Texas, and we want to maintain the momentum as vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS Associate Commissioner for Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services and President of the expert panel on vaccine allocation. . “As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize those most at risk for serious illness, hospitalization and death, such as the elderly.

These vaccinations have helped reduce the number of new cases and people hospitalized for COVID-19 to the lowest level since October.

Currently, more than 30% of all Texans aged 16 and over have already received at least one dose.

The state’s expert group on vaccine allocation has recommended that vaccination be opened to anyone who falls under current emergency use authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration.

The ministry said if you are eligible for a vaccine and do not have internet access, you can call 211 to be referred to a local supplier.

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