From now on, Dallas County officials said on Friday that there will be consultations only for future COVID-19 vaccinations, after two days of confusion and long waits for unmarked vaccines.
This announcement was made on the same day that Dallas County reported 2,817 new cases of COVIDovid-19 and a further 24 deaths.
The line of waiting cars stretched for a kilometer from Fair Park on Friday afternoon and some people said it took six hours to cross the line and get vaccinated.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said people over 75 were invited in tweets visiting Fair Park without an appointment on Thursdays and Fridays because the county’s website for scheduling visits has been compromised.
“Calling people here based on age only happened today, but we had to do that because, when our naming system was hacked, we would either do that or sit here without compromise,” said Jenkins.
Want to get on a vaccine waiting list?
As the state begins to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to those in Phases 1A and 1B, county health departments have started making waiting lists for those who wish to be inoculated.
You can now register to receive vaccinations in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The links are below:
Waiting list links: Collin | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You don’t have to be a county resident to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county – registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without Internet access, Tarrant County is also accepting applications by calling 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 469-749-9900. In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
Jenkins said more than 75 were selected to help protect the most vulnerable population.
“We are doing what we can, based on science, to save as many lives as possible,” said Jenkins.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said people aged 65 and over should have been invited to correspond with permanent vaccination groups and assess the county’s needs for living conditions in southern Dallas.
“CDC, Parkland and all the suppliers are saying 65 or more. You don’t have the opportunity to say, ‘Huh, I’ll be 75,’ ”said Price.
Online, many people complained that Jenkins tweeted the invitation against instructions from the county website that prescribe consultations.
“The tweets are the judge’s personal competence. It’s not like the Shire is tweeting, ”said Price. “You are sending mixed messages. They are complicated. They are confused. “
Jenkins said the situation is evolving and more population groups will be added in the future for vaccination, as supplies arrive, but only by appointment.
“Be patient with us as we improve the process each day,” said Jenkins.
The county judge said that all Dallas County residents, regardless of age, must register for a vaccination on the Dallas County website, even if they are not yet included in a current vaccination category.
Everyone will have their turn and being on the list will give you a place in the queue when the vaccination groups expand.
Jenkins said about 2,800 vaccines were delivered on Thursday and a little more on Friday.
Dallas County will provide vaccines by appointment at Fair Park on Saturday. There will be no vaccines offered on Sunday or Monday, the holiday of Martin Luther King Jr.
* Map locations are approximate, central locations in the city and are not intended to indicate where the really infected people live.
** County totals below include all 32 northern Texas counties, not just Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant.
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