McLennan County will receive 2,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 2nd week of distribution
Nam Y. Huh/AP
Prepared COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine syringes are seen at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill., Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Illinois received about 43,000 doses in its first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine Monday as health officials reported another 103 coronavirus deaths statewide. Most of the shots will be distributed to local health care centers for health care workers, according to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker s office. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Posted at 12:27 PM, Dec 19, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-19 13:27:26-05
WACO, TX â The Texas Department of State Health Services recently announced that 16 providers in McLennan County will be receiving 2,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine with 200 doses allotted for the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.
Updated: 5:14 PM CST December 17, 2020
WACO, Texas The principal of Waco High School James Stewart sent a message to Waco High families and employees Thursday about two more COVID-19 cases on campus.
“Yesterday and today, two more people at our campus have reported testing positive for COVID-19. At this time, we are expecting at least 36 teachers to be out tomorrow, and most of those teachers are quarantining after being in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, Stewart said. For this reason, all Waco High students will be learning remotely tomorrow. Our campus will reopen for in-person instruction after winter break on Jan. 5, 2021.
Wacoâs hospitals are managing a rising number of COVID-19 patients and plan to administer their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine Friday and Saturday to employees, officials said Wednesday during a weekly city press conference.
Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center plans to give its first shots Friday, Dr. Marc Elieson said. Ascension Providence Medical Center plans to follow suit Saturday, said Dr. Richard Haskett, chief medical officer of Ascension Medical Group Providence in Waco. Elieson and Haskett each said their systemâs Waco hospital is seeing the effects of uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.
The hospitals were treating 119 COVID-19 patients Wednesday, a new high, according to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District. Several days now with more than 100 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Waco is a worrying sign, Waco Family Health Center CEO Dr. Jackson Griggs said.
Updated: 9:37 PM CST December 15, 2020
WACO, Texas Dr. Ricky Edison, principal of University High School, sent the following message to University High families and employees Tuesday evening:
“Since Friday morning, 12 people, who have been on campus at University High School, have tested positive for COVID-19. That includes seven people who reported testing positive yesterday or today. The increasing number of cases is a cause for concern. It also means that a large number of both students and staff will be out for the rest of the week after testing positive or being in close contact with someone who tested positive.“
As a result, starting Wednesday, all students will begin to learn remotely. University High School will be closed for in-person instruction through winter break and will reopen for in-person instruction on January 5.
Vaccine to be distributed to healthcare workers in McLennan County
and last updated 2020-12-14 22:40:29-05
WACO, TX â Christmas is coming early for McLennan County healthcare workers. Many are hoping that the vaccines are the first step to ending the pandemic.
For weeks, COVID-19 cases have soared in Central Texas.
âOur hospitalizations continue to stay in the range of 100 on an average day, which is very high. Weâve seen here, in the middle of December, 28 deaths. Weâre not even finished with the month yet,â said Kelly Craine with Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.
However, hope is on the horizon. The newly approved Pfizer vaccine is set to McLennan County hospitals Providence Ascension and Baylor Scott & White this week.