Harris County begins a coronavirus vaccination waiting list Tuesday

HOUSTON Harris County will launch a waiting list for people who want to get the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the list was aimed at creating a fair way to distribute and administer the vaccine.

“Getting a COVID-19 vaccine should not be like ‘The Hunger Games,'” Hidalgo said. “It should not be about who can refresh the fastest in a browser.”

Hidalgo said the waiting list will be made available at ReadyHarris.org or by calling 832-927-8787. The telephone line is open from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 17:00 and is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

While anyone can sign up for the waiting list, only people who are able to receive the vaccine in phases 1A and 1B will get the chance at the moment, Hidalgo said. She said the system will not be a first-come-first-served system. She said qualifying people would be subject to a randomization system to ensure the administration process is fair. She said people who are not currently eligible will be contacted as soon as they are eligible.

Hidalgo said Harris County Public Health has administered 27,426 vaccines to date and that the country receives approximately 9,000 doses per week. She said that although the leaders of the province are advocating for receiving more doses, the waiting list does not mean that the country has a large amount of vaccine.

“The supply remains extremely limited,” Hidalgo said.

You can watch a repeat of Hidalgo’s news conference below: