Texas creates new COVID-19 vaccine âhubsâ, some rural communities feel ignored
HOUSTON - On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a new state strategy for distributing COVID-19 vaccines. According to the Governor, less providers will receive the shot compared to before. However, many of the recipients who do receive the shot will get more doses.
The plan will focus on new vaccine hubs that are intended to help distribute the vaccine faster. Each of these facilities will provide thousands of vaccines every single day, said Governor Abbott. Making the process far quicker and far more efficient.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said Sunday that the hub providers will get more than 158,000 doses of the vaccine this week. According to the provided list, 26,725 of those doses were sent to 3 new hubs in Harris County.
By Aaron Barker
Houston: As more doses of the coronavirus vaccine arrive in the Houston area, officials are ramping up the process of administering those shots.
Vaccines are only available to people who are eligible under phases 1A and 1B of the state’s distribution plan.
No matter where you live or which group you are in, officials are urging people to practice patience. The demand for the vaccine is outpacing the available supply, and appointments are also quickly filling up. More appointments will become available as supply increases, officials said.
If you are eligible to receive the vaccine, here’s the information provided by government officials about how to register to receive it. Eligible people can also contact their health care provider directly for information about how to receive the vaccine.
The Galveston County Health District has announced they will be offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to those who are 65 years of age and older. In a release, officials said the vaccines will be given by appointment only.
Phone registration:
-People with disabilities: 832-393-5500.
Earlier this month, the department said a new waitlist specifically for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was open for eligible Houston residents.
The department already had a vaccine waitlist for the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but opted to open an additional waitlist for the J&J shot, which was approved by the FDA for emergency-use authorization over the weekend.
Both waitlists are available at
The vaccine waitlists are available for anyone in groups 1A, 1B and 1C under Texas Department of State Health Services criteria, including front-line health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, individuals 65 years old and older, individuals 16 years old and older with certain medical conditions, and those people who are 50 and older regardless of health issues.
GALVESTON
Galveston County entered 2021 with COVID-19 spreading, reaching an infection rate last seen during the summer and forcing local hospitals to open extra space to accommodate patients.
But the countyâs top health official said there are indications the spread might be slowing.
âWhen I look at last weekâs numbers, I see a glimmer of hope,â said Dr. Phillip Keiser, Galveston Countyâs local health authority. âI donât know whether itâs me, or whether itâs real.â
Although the health district has been reporting more than 200 new cases a day recently, the rate of new cases appears to be slowing, Keiser said.