Texas is now planning for distribution of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Greg Abbott and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price were in Washington Tuesday for a summit on the vaccine along with the governors of Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee.
Price says FDA approval could come within the next four to six days, and the vaccine will start shipping immediately after that. She says the vaccine could start to be administered within 72 hours of approval.
"It's a good schedule. I think everybody's going to be very pleased with how it'll roll out," Price says.
Healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccine. Abbott says Texas will receive 1.4 million doses to start.
Abbott says the state is already working with shipping companies to get the vaccine to 7,200 hospitals and clinics once it is approved.
"We understand when we're doing something this large, especially in a state the size of Texas, we needed to make sure we were able to work out the kinks," he says. "To do that, we actually ran several mock distributions. We were able to set up a large number of these 'cold chain' storage operations so that we would make sure we would be able to handle the Pfizer vaccine as well as the Moderna vaccine adequately."
Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine will require two doses. Abbott says the state is setting up a system to remind people they will need a second shot.
He says people could get a card when they get their first shot to remind them to return for a second appointment, but he also says people can sign up for email and text reminders.
"People cannot be required to take a vaccine," Abbott says. "Most people want to, and there's going to be such a high demand for it that all of the supply will be used up. But I just want to make sure my fellow Texans know that you will not be forced to take a vaccine against your will."
While Texas is expecting its first shipment of the vaccine in less than a week, it may be months before the vaccine is widely available to everyone. Price says people need to remember to follow existing guidelines this Christmas season by avoiding large gatherings, wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
"I think the headline is we are really close. This is kind of like being in that last inning of a baseball game. We're in a 3-2 position, and we're about to hit this virus out of the park," she says. "I know it's hard at the holidays, but see your families, but be reasonable about it."
