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AMARILLO Gina Ryanczak, a Santa Fe, N.M., resident, was on the waiting list to receive a vaccination shot in her home state, but she wasn t yet eligible.
New Mexico was in Phase 1B of its vaccination allocation plan, which limited vaccinations to seniors aged 75 or older and people with chronic health risks.
At age 65 with mild asthma, Ryanczak wanted to get vaccinated sooner rather than later. So she headed for Texas. I figured, it’s worth taking a day off and driving over and getting a shot because I don’t want to wait until June, she said.
After a 300-mile drive to Amarillo, she waited just 15 minutes to get a shot at the city s Civic Center.
Gov. Greg Abbott pointed to the rising pace of coronavirus vaccinations, particularly of older adults, as one of the factors in his decision to lift the mask mandate and other pandemic restrictions.
Abbott said that by next week roughly half of Texans age 65 and older will have received at least one vaccine shot a target that s on pace to be met. As of Thursday, 46% of Texans in that age group had received at least one vaccine dose.
Abbott made a second prediction during his Tuesday announcement: By the end of this month, every senior who wants a vaccine shot will be able to get a vaccine shot.