As of Monday, March 15, people over 50 will be eligible for a vaccine in the state’s Phase 1C.
The Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel took a different approach to designating the vaccine, going by age rather than occupation.
According to the Texas State Department of Health Services, more than 93% of deaths in the state caused directly by the coronavirus are from people aged 50 and over. In addition, Texans aged 50 to 64 are responsible for 20% of all COVID-19 deaths.
On Wednesday, 44,650 COVID-19 deaths were counted in Texas.
“The state of Texas has adopted a different strategy than the CDC based on the Texas date,” explained panelist Dr. David Lakey. “The Texas data was very clear. The biggest risk factor for being hospitalized or dying from COVID was not your occupation, but your age, so we tried to immunize people aged 65 and over. Now, immunized with 50 or more. “
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The new group leaves out thousands of grocery, post office and restaurant workers, as well as bus drivers, many of whom held demonstrations in Austin demanding to be included. The panel said it does not want to give preference to any occupation with the data to prove that it is at greater risk.
Union representatives told ABC13 earlier this week that they feel scorned.
“We feel that we are essential workers, first-rate respondents. We should be included. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be vaccinated,” said Fidel Minor, a longtime METRÔ bus driver and vice president of TWU Local 260, who has 2,000 employees. members. “We have a great exposure to the public”.
The Specialist Vaccine Allocation Panel, which makes the recommendations, has 17 members across the state.
Group 1C includes about five million people. Lakey said that about a million people in that group fall into 1A or 1B.
In the previous week, DSHS directed state vaccine providers to vaccinate teachers and caregivers of children immediately after a federal-level directive.
Nearly 4.7 million Texans have at least one dose of the vaccine.
SEE ALSO: Texas Medical Center leaders talk about implanting the COVID-19 vaccine
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