Texas Department of State Health Services says it’s a good time ‘to make Phase 1C COVID-19 vaccine transition

HOUSTON The Texas Department of Health Services has shared an update on the allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Imelda Garcia, co-commissioner for laboratory and infectious diseases services and chair of the expert panel for vaccine awards, commented during the event, focusing on the new Group 1C to receive the vaccine Monday in Texas.

RELATED: Texas Expands from Next Week on to Eligible for Anyone 50 and Older

Garcia said the group designation “does the most” to protect Texans from COVID-19, because the next age group, combined with the 1A and 1B groups, accounts for 93 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Texas. She added that the 1C group, along with the 1A and 1B groups, carry a significant risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, adding that the data at this point are “very clear”.

Advertisement

“By revealing the next vaccination for this group, we can continue to reduce the number of deaths we see in the state, and alleviate the strain on our hospitals and the rest of the health care system,” Garcia said. ‘This is a good time to make this transition, as more than half of people aged 65 and over – about 53 per cent – have received at least one dose of the vaccine – and we are almost one-third fully vaccinated . ”

KPRC 2 will have a video of the comments once it can be processed in the video at the top of this article.