Texas is becoming the largest state to extend COVID-19 vaccinations for all adults, more than a month before President Joe Biden’s goal of making the shots available by May 1st.
The announcement by state health officials on Tuesday added Texas to the fast-growing list of states that make the vaccine available to all adults. The drastic expansion for the state’s nearly 30 million residents will begin Monday.
“We are closing 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to sustain the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, chair of the state-of-the-art vaccine panel.
Want to use on a vaccination waiting list?
Provincial health departments have launched waiting lists for those who want to be vaccinated and are eligible under Phase 1A, 1B, 1C and childcare and education staff.
You can register to receive the vaccination in the provinces of Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant. Links are below:
Waiting list links: Collin – Search Waiting List | Dallas | Denton | Tarrant
You do not have to be a resident of the country to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in that country – registration is available to anyone in Texas. For those without Internet access, Tarrant County also takes registrations by phone at 817-248-6299. In Dallas County, you can call the DCHHS Vaccination Point at 1-855-IMMUNE9 (1-855-466-8639). In Denton County, call 940-349-2585.
For the past two weeks, Texas has been the largest country without coronavirus restrictions after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott revoked a mask mandate that divided businesses and lifted restrictions on restaurant and retail occupation. Hospitalizations in Texas have dropped to their lowest levels since October, but local health officials say they are keeping a close eye on the numbers again after the spring break last week.
Alaska was the first state to be eligible for vaccine for all adults, and others are now trying to do the same, including Tennessee and Missouri.
Texas has one of the country’s slowest vaccination rates. About 10 percent of the state’s population was fully vaccinated by Tuesday, and about 22 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, received at least one dose.
State officials blamed the numbers on the blame in February for a deadly winter storm, claiming that federal officials used outdated census data to determine the delivery of doses in Texas.
Biden used his first broadcast address earlier this month to promise that all adults in the U.S. would be eligible for the vaccine from May 1st.
The vaccine is currently only administered to those who are part of Phases 1A, 1B and 1C, as set forth by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Those in Phase 1A are leading health care workers or residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1B includes those older than 65, or older than 16 with a chronic medical condition that puts them at risk for serious illness.
On March 3, the availability of vaccines was expanded to include school and child care workers. On March 15, vaccine admission was extended to Phase 1C, which includes everyone over 50.
President Biden said the vaccine should be available to all Americans by May 1.
After being vaccinated, people are expected to get some protection within a few weeks after the first shot, but full protection can only take place a few weeks after the second shot. Even when fully vaccinated, it is still possible to become infected with the virus, as the vaccine does not provide 100% protection.