BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Last month, a lot of new information was released, almost daily, about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible. Here’s what we know about the process right now:
WHERE CAN I GET A VACCINE
Texas continues to receive doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and is distributing it across the state to hospitals, pharmacies and other clinics.
If you are in Phase 1 and are eligible to receive the vaccine, check the Providers page for the COVID-19 Vaccination Center to find a hub near you and learn how to register.
Alternatively, you can also check the vaccine providers’ websites listed on the Texas COVID-19 vaccine availability map to see if they currently have enough vaccine stock.
Currently, Baylor Scott & White Health at College Station is providing vaccines only to those who are eligible for Phase 1A and their own patients who fall under Phase 1B. Click here to read more about Baylor Scott & White Health’s distribution plan.
St. Joseph Health has been designated as a vaccination center by the state and welcomes anyone eligible to apply for a vaccine here on its website. However, the doses are very limited and the few doses that exist here have already been allocated. You can still sign up for future shipments, but there is no timetable for when they will be available.
A distribution operation is planned in the future at the Brazos Center in Bryan, but that plan is still under construction. A simulation is planned for Monday, January 18, but is not currently open to the public. The municipality is also working to provide a phone number for residents to use in case of doubt, transportation to the Brazos Center and a registration portal for residents to use to register online, BUT these services are currently not available. More information about this will be released in the near future.
There are several other distribution points in Brazos County, including some HEB pharmacies, but at the moment they are also without vaccines.
A COVID-19 vaccination clinic is available on Saturday, January 16 in Temple for veterans aged 75 and over. Click here for more details.
Remember:
- Don’t show up at a hospital or clinic looking for a vaccine.
- Instead, check their website for information on vaccine availability.
- Call only if the site does not answer your questions.
NON-ENOUGH VACCINES AVAILABLE
Vaccine doses sent from the state are now limited in Vale do Brazos. Even those who are eligible to receive the vaccine are being placed on a waiting list until new supplies arrive. Health officials are asking everyone to be patient during the waiting period.
It is unclear when the next shipments will arrive. It is also unclear how many will be shipped in the next batch. This is part of the challenge for providers when establishing a distribution system. Continue to monitor the site pages for local providers and KBTX for updated information on vaccine distribution.
WHO CAN GET A VACCINE NOW?
In the state of Texas, frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities (called Phase 1A) plus people over 65 or with a chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for serious illness COVID-19 (called Phase 1B) are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Phase 1B recipients include:
- People aged 65 and over
- People 16 years of age or older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for serious illness caused by the virus that causes COVID-19, such as, but not limited to: Cancer Chronic kidney disease COPD (obstructive lung disease) chronic) Cardiac problems, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies Solid organ transplantation Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index 30 kg / m2 or higher) Pregnancy Sickle cell disease diabetes mellitus type 2
Are you afraid of needles? See how to overcome your fear.
After Phase 1, who gets the next vaccine and when?
Spring 2021 is the best estimate of when the vaccine will be available to the general public, but that could change. It depends on the production of the vaccine and how quickly other vaccines become available. The Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP) is considering which criteria can be used for the later stages of vaccine distribution. This web page will be updated when these decisions are completed.
When will teachers, critical infrastructure workers, essential workers and other frontline workers not included in 1A be eligible for the vaccine?
Spring 2021 is the best estimate of when the vaccine will be available to the general public, which is not considered Phase 1B. No specific occupation or group is specifically identified in 1B; however, all occupations will have some individuals who meet criteria 1B. It depends on the production of the vaccine and how quickly other vaccines become available.
Additional information for educators and school staff is available from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) K-12 COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ.
Should I be vaccinated if I have recovered from COVID-19?
Yes. The immunity of the COVID-19 vaccine may last longer than the natural immunity you get if you have already taken COVID-19.
People who currently have COVID-19 should not be vaccinated while they are sick.
Does everyone have to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?
No. Vaccination is voluntary and cannot be required, as the vaccine is being distributed under an emergency use authorization (USA). Once vaccines are fully licensed, different laws may apply. Regardless, being vaccinated against COVID-19 is another way to protect yourself and others from receiving and spreading COVID-19.
CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO THE STATE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PANEL: Note that this feature may work best on a desktop computer. Health officials also emphasize that the data on this page can delay real-time reporting from local providers.
How are COVID-19 vaccines different from other vaccines?
Different types of vaccines work in different ways to provide protection. But every type of vaccine works by teaching our bodies to produce cells that activate an immune response. This immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from being infected if the real virus enters our body.
There are currently three main types of COVID-19 vaccines that are or will soon undergo large-scale clinical trials (Phase 3) in the United States:
- mRNA vaccines
- Protein subunit vaccines
- Vector vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines do not use the live virus and cannot supply COVID-19. The vaccine does not alter your DNA. The vaccination COVID-19 will help to protect you, creating an immune response without having to get sick.
Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in the section Understanding how COVID-19 vaccines work on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Getting this vaccine as soon as it is available to you represents a step you can take to get the Texas economy and our day-to-day lives back to normal.
How do I know if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?
Safety is a priority as federal partners work to make COVID-19 vaccines available. The new COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated on tens of thousands of volunteers during clinical trials. Vaccines are only authorized for use if they are considered safe.
Although they found no safety problems during clinical trials, CDC and other federal partners will continue to monitor new vaccines. They are on the lookout for serious side effects (or “adverse events”) using vaccine safety monitoring systems, such as the new V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker app.
For the most up-to-date information, see the Vaccine Safety section of the CDC website.
To learn more about CDC’s new vaccine safety monitoring system, see the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker section of the CDC website.
O #COVID-19 The vaccine does not change your DNA or genetic makeup, does not include a microchip and, unfortunately, will not give you Spider-Man powers.🕷️🕷️
The side effects are your immune system’s response to the vaccine, which means that the vaccine is working. https://t.co/ztMEReUtMs
– Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) January 14, 2021
Who decides how many vaccines does Texas receive?
The CDC determines how many doses of the vaccine Texas will receive each week, based on the population. Once the Texas State Department of Health Services (DSHS) is notified of the number of doses expected the following week, the DSHS team presents the vaccine delivery possibilities to the Vaccine Allocation Specialist Panel (EVAP). The panel makes modifications and recommendations to the Health Commissioner, who makes the final decision on that week’s distribution.
Who decides how to distribute the vaccine in Texas?
In Texas, the DSHS distributes the vaccine under the guidance of EVAP, appointed by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. John Hellerstedt.
How did the DSHS decide who to immunize first?
The Health Commissioner has appointed an EVAP to make recommendations on vaccine allocation decisions. This includes identifying groups that should be vaccinated first. The objective is to provide maximum protection to vulnerable populations and critical state resources. EVAP has developed Vaccine Allocation Guiding Principles (PDF) that provide the basis for the vaccine allocation process in Texas.
For frequently asked questions about the vaccine, click here.
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