Texans 50 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from March 15, state health officials announced on Wednesday.
“Expansion to the ages of 50 to 64 will continue the state’s priorities to protect those most at risk of serious outcomes and preserve the state’s health system,” said Imelda Garcia, associate commissioner for laboratory services and infectious diseases in the state. State Department of Health and chair of the Vaccine Allocation Specialist Panel.
People aged 50 and over are responsible for more than 93% of coronavirus deaths in Texas, said the DSHS, while people aged 50 to 64 are responsible for 20% of all deaths.
Those in Phase 1A are frontline health professionals or residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1B includes those over 65 or those over 16 with a chronic medical condition that puts them at risk for serious illness. More details on the status of the group’s phases can be found here.
On March 3, the availability of the vaccine was expanded to include teachers, school staff and caregivers for children.
The state says the launch of the 1C group will further help reduce hospitalizations and deaths “across all races, ethnicities and occupations,” a press release said.
The state has seen “a noticeable reduction in the number of hospitalizations and deaths since people aged 65 and over started being fully vaccinated in January,” said Garcia.
More than half of all Texas seniors received at least one dose of the vaccine and 30% are fully vaccinated. The number of COVID-19 positive patients in Texas hospitals has dropped by two-thirds since its peak in mid-January.
There are about 5 million Texans aged 50 to 64; more than 1 million of them are already vaccinated.
Overall, more than 7 million doses have been administered in Texas. About 4.7 million people received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 2.5 million are fully vaccinated.
Want to get on a vaccine waiting list?
As the state begins to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to those in Phases 1A and 1B, county health departments have started making waiting lists for those who wish to be inoculated.
You can now register to receive vaccinations in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The links are below:
Waiting list links: Collin – Research Waiting List | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You don’t have to be a county resident to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that county – registration is open to anyone in Texas. For those without access to the Internet, Tarrant County is also accepting applications by calling 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, call the DCHHS vaccine hotline at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
Texas COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Data from the Texas Department of Health Services show where the COVID-19 vaccines were sent across the state. Click on a marker to find information about each location. Use the “plus” and “minus” signs below to zoom in and out of the map.