AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Texas will direct most of its COVID-19 vaccine supply next week to large providers and open up a number of vaccine hubs across the state, officials said Thursday.
Officials with the Department of State Health Services said most of the doses will go to providers who can vaccinate a total of more than 100,000 people.
According to the state, these vaccination hubs will provide people in those priority populations with identifiable sites where vaccination is occurring and a simpler way to sign-up for an appointment with each provider.
Providers that receive the larger amounts of vaccine will vaccinate health care workers, people who are 65 and older, and those who have a medical condition that increases their risk of severe disease or death. The providers will also provide a registration phone number and website, and focus on areas and populations hardest hit by COVID-19 while vaccinating people from surrounding areas.
DSHS says it will publish a list of the vaccine hub providers once it is finalized, later this week.
Next week will also be the last week that the state is required to reserve doses for residents and staff of long-term care facilities under a federal partnership, which will free up vaccine doses for other settings.
Providers should use all doses allocated to administer the first dose of vaccine to people. There is no need to reserve shots for a second dose because they will get a matching number of doses for that at the appropriate time.
People can find more information on COVID-19 vaccine and its availability at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx.
