ROUND ROCK, Texas — Texas Department of State Health Services (HHS) in a press release states that 109 hospitals in 34 counties in Texas will receive the first week’s allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine, numbering 224,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, once it is authorized for use in the United States.
The dose allocation numbers were based on “information submitted by vaccine providers when they enrolled, including the number of health care workers who can be quickly vaccinated and vaccine storage capacity at each site. The minimum order for the Pfizer vaccine is 975 doses. More vaccine will be available for more providers in the following weeks, including vaccine from Moderna once it is authorized.”
In Round Rock, two locations are expected to get these doses of the vaccine:
- Round Rock Medical Center — 975
- Baylor Scott White Health Medical Center — 975
Doses expected at facilities in Austin are:
- Seton Medical Center Austin Austin — 72,925
- Dell Children’s Medical Center Of Central Texas Austin — 71,950
- South Austin Medical Center Austin — 7,975
- Dell Seton Medical Center At University Of Texas Austin — 71,950
- University of Texas Health Austin (Dell Medical School) Austin — 72,925
- Austin State Hospital Austin — 7,975
- North Austin Medical Center Austin — 7,975
- St David’s Medical Center Austin — 7,975
Stated in the Texas COVID-19 Vaccination Plan: Section 3: Phased Approach to COVID-19 Vaccination: “COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary and left up to the individual to decide if and when to receive the vaccine.”
Vulnerable and Frontline Populations are defined by the CDC and addressed in Section 4, page 12, and with including ages 65 and older, it also includes “people attending colleges and universities.” Others are people with disabilities, living in rural communities, long-term care facility residents, and more.
Section 9: COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Documentation and Reporting states that “Texas will use the Texas Immunization Registry, known as ImmTrac2, to collect data from providers on COVID-19 vaccine doses administered.” According to Texas law, no individualized data will be shared with the CDC Immunization Gateway, not providing information that can identify those vaccinated via personal information.
There are 19 voting members on the COVID-19 Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel who work to develop the allocation strategies and recommendations to the Texas Commissioner of Health, according to Texas HHS. The list includes state senators and representatives, physicians, health department directors and other health officials.