Teachers, school staff and child care workers can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Texas’ DSHS said it notified all vaccine providers Wednesday that they should immediately include school workers and child care personnel in their vaccine administration.
The state’s decision comes after the DSHS received a letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services instructing countries to extend the suitability to people working in the school and child care industry, including teachers and school staff.
The federal directive defined those eligible as “those working in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs (including teachers, staff and bus drivers) and those working as or for licensed child care providers, including center and family care providers. ”
This action does not change the other groups that are prioritized for vaccination in Texas.
According to the DSHS, vaccine providers are encouraged to continue vaccinating older adults, as the burden of COVID-19 falls worst on people aged 65 and older.
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 health department in the country began launching waiting lists for those who wanted 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.
The vaccine is currently only administered to those who are part of Phase 1A and 1B, 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.
After being vaccinated, people are expected to get some protection within a few weeks after the first shot, but full protection can only happen 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.
The Texas DSHS recommends that the vaccine not be available to the general public until late spring or early summer 2021.