FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - Days after Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent Scribner sent a letter to Governor Abbott asking him to include teachers among frontline workers to be among the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court has followed suit.
Led by Judge Glen Whitley, the commissioners sent their own letter to Governor Abbott, saying that educators are on the front lines of America's future.
"While we know the decisions that are being made regarding who does and does not get the vaccine are difficult, it is essential that we support those who are on the front lines of our future -- our educators -- to provide a place for children to learn and achieve their dreams," the commissioners wrote.
The letter was signed by Judge Whitley and all four precinct commissioners.
The letter continues, "Keeping educators healthy keeps our kids in school and our economy going."
Tarrant County hospitals are expected to get the first doses of Pfizer's vaccine sometime next week.
Ample supply coming soon
As for when COVID-19 vaccines will be widely available, Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja says that could come in late winter or early spring.
"Current estimations are somewhere in February-March timeframe, there will be ample supplies," Taneja told the Commissioners Court Tuesday morning. "There is a phase called phase two, where they are going to be giving separate allocations to large national pharmacy chains like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kroger and so forth. And that's where we expect that it will be as widely available as the flu vaccine -- you can pretty much go anywhere (and) get a COVID vaccine shot."
Tarrant Co Commissioners
