Harris County will on Tuesday introduce a waiting list for the vaccination of COVID-19 to ensure that shots are fired fairly among eligible residents.
Instead of the first-come-first-served approach used by other distributors, including the city of Houston, the county’s system will randomly select recipients for appointments. Older residents will become a priority, Harris County Public Health said.
“Let me put it bluntly: getting the COVID-19 vaccine does not have to be like the ‘Hunger Games’,” Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “It should not be about who can be the fastest in a browser do not refresh. “
Only people who meet the criteria for phases 1A – first responders and health workers – and 1B – residents at least 65 years old or people with certain medical conditions – will receive appointments.
Registration will be available at readyharris.org; residents can also call (832) 927-8787 to sign up. Operators are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. All Texans are eligible.
The health department said the distribution plan complied with state guidelines. Dallas County has returned to a plan to focus vaccination efforts on certain low-income zip codes, after the state threatened to withhold the vaccine.
Harris County has vaccinated more than 27,000 doses to date, less than the capacity of Minute Maid Park. According to Hidalgo, the country received about 9,000 doses of Moderna vaccine each week.
People who are not eligible for category 1A or 1B can still enter. Vaccinations may not be available to most residents until May or June.