In recent years, Dr. Gokal has divided his time between two hospitals in the area. But when the pandemic struck in early 2020, he lived for a month in a hotel and apartment instead of risking infecting his wife, Maria, 47, who has pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in her lungs that leaves her breathless. even after minimal activity.
“I was petrified to come home and bring Covid to my wife,” he said.
Fortunately, he said, the Harris County public health department recruited him in April to become the medical director of Covid’s response team. The job paid less, but he was eager to protect his wife by limiting his exposure to coronavirus in the emergency rooms.
On December 22, Dr. Gokal participated in a conference call in which state health officials explained the protocols for administering the recently approved Modern vaccine. The 10 or 11 doses in a vial are viable for six hours after the seal has been punctured.
Dr. Gokal said the advice was to vaccinate eligible people in category 1 (a) (health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities), then those in category 1 (b) (people over 65 or in good health) condition that increases the risk of serious Covid-related illnesses).
After that, he said, the message was: “Just put it in people’s arms. We don’t want any doses to be missed. Time course.”
On December 29, a mild Tuesday, Dr. Gokal arrived before dawn at a park in Houston’s Humble suburb to oversee a vaccination event aimed primarily at emergency workers. Partly because of minimal advertising, the pace was slow, with no more than 250 doses administered. But this was the county’s first public event, he said. “We knew there would be hiccups.”
Around 6:45 pm, when the event was over, an eligible person arrived for a chance. A nurse punctured a new bottle to administer the vaccine, which activated the six-hour limit for the remaining 10 doses.