City officials getting coronavirus vaccine when 6,000 doses reach Houston’s health and fire department

HOUSTON – Some of the first frontline workers to the city of Houston are getting their coronavirus vaccines on Monday after 6,000 doses reached the Houston Department of Health and the Houston Fire Department.

Dr. Stephen Williams, director of HHD, said the first shots will go to the 260 workers who qualify in Phase 1A. He said the Department of Health is also preparing to administer the vaccine to 365 school nurses in the school districts of Houston and Pearland.

Houston fire chief Sam Peña said teams of paramedics would be the first people in his department to receive the vaccine. Peña said more than 50% of firefighters said they were interested in receiving the vaccine. He said that the support team will be part of the implementation of Phase 1B.

More than 400 firefighters have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began. Three firefighters died. Peña said a fireman went to the emergency room on Monday with breathing problems and tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. David Persse, Houston’s medical director, said that while the vaccine is still being limited to people in phases 1A and 1B, it will eventually be implemented for larger sections of the public.

“When your opportunity comes, please feel comfortable,” said Persse. “Get vaccinated.”

On Monday, Harris County Public Health is administering doses of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine to those who qualify for Phase 1A. The HCPH has notified local partners that support eligible Phase 1A individuals and is already providing vaccines to the healthcare team.

News of the additional doses in Houston came as new cases of the virus were reported in Houston.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said 765 more cases were reported on Monday, bringing the city’s total to 116,043. An additional death has been reported, bringing the total number of deaths in the city to 1,544.

Turner said the positivity rate rose to 11.6% on Monday, almost half a point above last week.

With only three days left in 2020, Houston officials urged people to keep their meetings small.

Turner said people should cancel any New Year’s Eve meeting that requires people to meet in large numbers.

The mayor said he did not have the resources for police bars and parties, but asked people to exercise their personal responsibility in an effort to control the spread of the virus.

“We continue to ask people to recognize that when you meet in large numbers nearby without the mask, you are creating a very bad environment,” said Turner.

Authorities also reminded people not to drink and drive and that fireworks and commemorative shots are prohibited in Houston.