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The prioritization was announced Monday by the office of Governor Greg Abbott, based on recommendations made by the expert panel on vaccine allocation established by the Texas Department of Health Services.
These guiding principles serve as the basis for the state’s initial distribution of coronavirus vaccines, which are expected to arrive as early as next month, Abbott’s office said.
“These guiding principles established by the Expert Panel on Vaccine Allocation will ensure that the state of Texas quickly distributes the COVID-19 vaccine to Texans who voluntarily choose to be vaccinated,” Abbott said. “This basis of the allocation process will help us mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, protect the most vulnerable Texans, and safeguard critical state resources.”
According to the recommendations, health workers include staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities, emergency medical services and home health workers.
The recommendations also direct the first vaccines to frontline workers, which include those “who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their work providing essential services and preserving the economy.”
Who will receive the vaccines once the priorities are met?
Once the first doses were distributed, the state said it would allocate vaccines according to the following criteria:
- Reducing health inequalities due to factors such as demographics, poverty, insurance status, and geography.
- Data-driven allowances using the best scientific and epidemiological evidence available at the time, allowing flexibility for local conditions.
- Geographic diversity through a balanced approach that takes into account access in urban and rural communities and in relevant postal codes.
- Transparency by sharing allowances with the public and seeking public comments.
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