Texas Democrats Want Governor Greg Abbott to Overhaul COVID-19 Vaccination Process

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Group of 38 Texas House Democrats criticize Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas State Department chief of health over statewide vaccine delivery rollout, calling it “confusing and growing frustration ”.

Lawmakers across the state, in a letter dated Jan.6, called for leaders to make a number of changes to the process, such as ensuring communities of color have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine and donating priority is given to those who have jobs that require them to work with people outside their home.

State Representative Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, wrote that her office is unable to answer voters’ questions about vaccines “because the state’s plan conflicts with what people are going through. actually in the state.

“The lack of reliable public information leads to skepticism about the government’s ability to watch over public health,” Goodwin wrote in the letter signed by 37 other House Democrats. “This kind of suspicion is not what each of us wants.”

The vaccine rollout in Texas has been confusing so far, with medical experts and others wondering how the state plans to handle the delivery of the vaccine to around 30 million people in the coming months. The vague message from state officials about details of who is eligible to receive a vaccine – and where and how to schedule a vaccination – has been compounded by technical errors, logistical delays and, in some cases, shortages of vaccine. supply.

In North Texas, a woman started a crowdsourcing website to help Texans know where vaccines are available by listing providers in the Dallas and Austin areas, according to KXAN. Since Carri Craver launched the site earlier this week, KXAN reported, more than 3,000 people had signed up for updates on Tuesday.

The number of vaccine doses available falls far short of those eligible for vaccination, and state figures showed earlier this week that less than half of the vaccine doses shipped to Texans had been distributed. A state panel established these eligibility guidelines based on recommendations from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State officials said Thursday that Texas will receive about 200,000 additional doses of the vaccine next week, which will help streamline distribution.

Goodwin said a map of vaccination locations in his House district suggests providers are less concentrated in areas with a higher percentage of people of color, who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, data shows. . She called on Abbott and DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt to “pay particular attention to widely disseminating immunization options and making them equally accessible to all Texans, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.”

Goodwin also asked the two to prioritize vaccinations for teachers, grocery store workers, food service workers and others who have professions that require them to interact with other people outside of their home. hearth. And she called on state leaders to better provide the legislature with “frequent and regular updates on the immunization distribution plan and its implementation” so lawmakers can better convey information to voters.

A spokesperson for Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Vaccines can only be deployed quickly and efficiently if Texans have confidence in the information they receive from the DSHS, the governor, and their representatives,” Goodwin wrote. “Please help us work with you to make sure Texans are vaccinated effectively and safely.”