Texans 50 and older are eligible to launch the COVID-19 vaccine from March 15, state health officials announced Wednesday.
“Expanding to the age of 50 to 64 will continue the state’s priorities to protect those at greatest risk of serious consequences and to maintain the state’s health care system,” said Imelda Garcia, medical commissioner for laboratory and infectious diseases. sick services and chairman, said. from the expert panel for the award of vaccines.
People 50 years and older are responsible for more than 93% of coronavirus deaths in Texas, the DSHS said, while people 50 to 64 years old account for 20% of all deaths.
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. More details on the group stages can be found here.
On March 3, the availability of vaccines was expanded to include teachers, school staff and child care workers.
The state says the launch of the 1C group will further help reduce hospitalizations and deaths “in all races, ethnicities and occupations,” reads a news release.
The state has “seen a remarkable decrease in the number of hospitalizations and deaths since people 65 and older were fully vaccinated in January,” Garcia said.
More than half of all seniors in Texas have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 30% are now fully vaccinated. The number of COVID-19-positive patients in Texas hospitals fell by two-thirds from its peak in mid-January.
There are about 5 million Texans between the ages of 50 and 64; more than 1 million of them have already been vaccinated.
In all, more than 7 million doses have been administered in Texas. About 4.7 million people received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 2.5 million were completely vaccinated.
Want to use on a vaccination waiting list?
As the state began distributing the COVID-19 vaccines to those in Phases 1A and 1B, the country’s health department has begun waiting lists for those who want to be vaccinated.
You can now 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.
Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows where COVID-19 vaccines were shipped by the state. Click on a marker to find out information about each location. Use the “plus” and “minus” characters below to zoom in and out on the map.