Houston’s first COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru opens

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Against the backdrop of a milestone in the city’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday offered a grim record and a reminder of the dire need to expand vaccines for high-risk residents.

The 3,039 new cases reported by Turner are the most recorded in a single day in the city during the course of the pandemic.

The statistic does come with some conditions, however. According to Turner, the number comes from a set of lawsuits over the past three days.

Even so, the city has so far registered more than 148,500 cases of the coronavirus. Houston’s positivity rate is 17%.

First drive-thru vaccination site in town

With a numerical reminder of the virus’s impact on the city in mind, Turner and other city leaders inaugurated Houston’s first drive-thru vaccination site at Del Mar Stadium, where 1,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine were distributed.

Turner added that the Houston Department of Health received an additional 9,000 doses last Friday.

“Our job to vaccinate as many people (yes) based on the offer. I know that there is a lot of anxiety in the community because people are concerned about not being able to make an appointment. We know that the demand is greater than the vaccine supply, “said Turner.

The drive-thru website is in partnership with the United Memorial Medical Center. People considered in high risk phases 1A and 1B qualified for vaccination by appointment.

“As we get more vaccines, we will expand partnerships with federally qualified pharmacies and health centers to ensure that the vaccine is available in the most vulnerable communities and deploy mobile attack teams as needed,” added Turner.