The Texas Department of State Health Services says pharmacies and clinics can move to the next phase of vaccinations. People are still urged to contact pharmacies to make sure they have supplies.
The next phase includes anyone over 65 and people over 16 who have an underlying condition. Those conditions include cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions (including heart failure, cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease), obesity, people who have had organ transplants, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and people with Type 2 diabetes.
The move to "Phase 1B" comes as hospitalizations have set another record in DFW and the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 11,775 COVID-19 patients across the state Tuesday, 424 more than Monday.
In the 19 county area around North Texas, hospitals reported 3,619 COVID-19 patients, 143 more than Monday. COVID-19 patients were using 23.64% of hospital capacity.
The DFW Hospital Council says Dallas and Tarrant Counties have just 31 available ICU beds.
Tuesday, Dallas police and Dallas Fire Rescue began vaccinations of officers and firefighters.
"We've worked and planned for this day for so many days, now," says Dallas Fire Rescue Chief Dominique Artis. "To actually have the vaccine here and be able to give it to our personnel means the world to me and also to our folks."
"To watch our front line personnel come in, get their vaccines and go out with the beginnings of some protection against this virus really makes all of the blood, sweat and tears and hard work that's gone on the last several weeks worth it," says Dr. Alex Eastman, chief medical officer for the Dallas Police Department.
The City of Dallas says it received 2,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The city says 250 first responders can be vaccinated per day.
The city says 100 other employees of Dallas Fire Rescue have received their first dose of the vaccine through Parkland Hospital and Dallas County Health and Human Services. Each first responder who receives his or her first dose will be automatically scheduled for a second in 28 days.
