Austin Pilots Distribution of Major Vaccines for Individuals in Phase 1B
Published on January 19, 2021
Business updates
- The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have received emergency permits from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- As part of a nationwide program to launch local COVID-19 vaccines, Austin Public Health (APH) received 12,000 doses in last week’s award from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
- The 12,000 vaccines, which make up less than 1% of the population, were administered to those who met the state criteria for phase 1A and 1B of vaccination.
- On 11 to 13 January, APH worked with partner organizations to serve Phase 1A and 1B individuals uninsured and underinsured.
- On January 13, APH launched a pre-registration system for COVID-19 for residents of the area to sign up for future doses of APH vaccine.
- From 14-16 January, APH vaccinated individuals of 1A and 1B who were pre-registered at various locations in the city. All 12,000 vaccines were distributed between Monday and Saturday.
- APH received a second shipment of 12,000 Texas DSHS vaccines as part of the DSHS Week 6 Award. APH plans to distribute the registration system within the week.
- There are currently more than 350 pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospital groups, and other providers that supply COVID-19 vaccines in Austin-Travis County.
- At the moment, it is important to remember that not everyone who meets the DSHS and APH criteria can get the vaccine through these first major DSHS awards. If you can get a vaccine through your healthcare provider, pharmacy or other provider, you can help us save this limited grant for our most vulnerable population.
- APH does not oversee other providers and their individual distribution plans. However, APH works across the healthcare system and the vaccine coalition to develop guidelines that support the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and DSHS framework for distribution.
- Last week was the last week that DSHS had to discuss doses for the federal pharmacy partnership for long-term care program. It has released more vaccine for use in other institutions moving forward.
- Some providers have started vaccinating individuals in phase 1B, which includes those over 65 years of age and people with medical conditions who are being elevated by COVID-19 for serious illnesses. However, APH understands from discussions with other suppliers that the demand for Phase 1B vaccine exceeds the supply of many suppliers in the Austin area, which is still focused on Phase 1A.
- As a reminder, the ability to respond to the current increase in COVID-19 will determine our ability to inoculate vaccine. The same resources that plan the distribution of vaccines are also the management of test areas and the care of patients during this record boom. We need to help our public health and health workers by flattening the curve.
Safety precautions
- Even with limited vaccines available in our community, people should continue to take additional COVID-19 preventative measures, including: wearing a mask, taking social distances, washing your hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes, frequently touching surfaces , cleaning and staying home when you are sick.
- The CDC recommends that the vaccine be offered to humans regardless of whether they have a history of COVID-19 infection.
- From the vaccination trials, it is not yet clear whether individuals receiving the vaccine can still transmit COVID-19 to others. It is therefore very important that even vaccinated people take the same precautions as before to ensure that they do not accidentally spread the virus as a carrier.
- The FDA has released fact sheets on the Pfizer vaccine and Modern vaccine for recipients and caregivers that contain information on the ingredients and side effects of the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection into the muscle in a series of two doses given three (Pfizer) or four (Moderna) weeks apart. Vaccine recipients receive a vaccination card showing which vaccine and lot number they received and when to return for a second dose.
- Although the COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects such as fatigue, headache, fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches and joint pain, these side effects show that the vaccine works.
- Vaccine recipients should be monitored for at least 15 minutes for a more severe allergic reaction. People with a history of allergic reactions should be monitored for 30 minutes.
- COVID – 19 vaccines do not use the live virus and can not give you COVID – 19. The vaccine does not change your DNA. Vaccination against COVID-19 will help you create an immune response without having to experience any illness.
- The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that even very rare side effects are identified. V-SAFE is a new smartphone-based health examiner for people receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
Visit for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19-Vaccines.