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Austin Public Health, Travis County administer 400,000 COVID vaccines
By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team
Published
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Public Health (APH) and Travis County have reached a substantial milestone as they have now administered 400,000 COVID-19 vaccines. This is a big milestone for our community. I m grateful for everyone who helped us get here, including the doctors, nurses, firefighters, first responders, school districts, and community members across our region that volunteered to help get our neighbors vaccinated, said Travis County Judge Andy Brown in a news release. We are not done yet. If you or the 12 and older children in your life haven t gotten vaccinated yet, now is the time to do so.
Escott sheds Travis County health authority role to become Austin s chief medical officer full time
Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott is moving on from his role as the county s top doc and is set to work full time as the chief medical officer for the city of Austin, according to a letter addressed to Mayor Steve Adler.
The letter, which is also addressed to Austin and Travis County elected officials, states that Escott will end his interim role as county health authority so that he can fully engage in my new role as the chief medical officer.
A patient receives a COVID-19 vaccine on March 27.
Almost 900 people received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at walk-up clinics held by Austin Public Health on Thursday.
APH officials said it’s part of their plan to shift to a hybrid model for vaccine distribution. Starting in May, APH will maintain a few of its large distribution sites but will incorporate more community-based vaccination events.
“We are really looking forward to the efforts of providing vaccines that are near individuals in the neighborhoods that need them the most,” APH Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard said. She said the department will target specific areas and zip codes in multiple settings – like apartment complexes, community centers and through faith-based organizations.
As the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have begun to inch up in Austin and Travis County, local health officials are urging residents to keep up healthy practices and get the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Monday, 143 new coronavirus cases and 144 hospitalizations were reported, marking an increase of the disease in the area, interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott on Tuesday told Travis County Commissioners Court and Austin City Council members.
For the past several weeks, the number of new cases had been oscillating around 100, Escott said. Now, the cases are oscillating between 115 and 125, he said. COVID is still here. It s still spreading. We re still seeing people infected and hospitalized, he said.