Dallas will receive 5,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to administer starting next week

The city of Dallas will receive 5,000 doses of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine and plans to start administering them at some point next week at the Kay Bailey Hutchison convention center.

Mayor Eric Johnson announced on Friday that city staff would contact people already registered to receive vaccines at Fair Park and set up times for them to be vaccinated through drive-through at the convention center.

Direct delivery to the city comes almost two weeks after Dallas County opened its Fair Park vaccination megasite in southern Dallas. Johnson asked the state on Jan. 11 for more doses to increase vaccination efforts. According to him, the city has the capacity to store up to 10,000 doses per week.

“I am excited and ready to bring these highly effective, life-saving vaccines to the public,” Johnson said in a statement. The city “is ready to help the state take its vaccination efforts to the next level. We will do this equitably, efficiently and without political influence. “

The city previously received 2,000 doses and prioritized the first respondents. Johnson said the new batch will go to anyone who is currently qualified to receive the injections.

It was unclear on what day the vaccination post would open, but the city plans to operate it between 10 am and 7 pm on weekdays and a weekend day.

Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics will administer the vaccines.

The city received 2,000 Modern vaccines from the state on December 28 and began applying them the following day to employees passing through a parking lot at the convention center. The city used all doses until January 5.

Dallas still has more than 3,000 rescuers who have not received the city’s vaccine. But those in the Phase 1B pool – people 65 and older or any adult with a chronic medical condition – can get the vaccine through other locations like Fair Park.