BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Over the past month, a lot of new information has been released almost daily about the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible. Here is what we know about the process at this point:
WHERE CAN I GET A BULK?
Texas continues to receive doses of the Pfizer and Modern COVID-19 vaccines and distribute them across the country to hospitals, pharmacies and other clinics.
If you are in Phase 1 and are eligible to receive the vaccine, please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub Providers page to find a center near you and learn how to register.
Alternatively, you can also visit the vaccine vendor websites on the COVID-19 vaccine availability card to see if they currently have enough vaccine.
At present, Baylor Scott & White Health in College Station only offers vaccines to those eligible for Phase 1A and to its own patients who fall into Phase 1B. Click here to read more about Baylor Scott & White Health’s distribution plan.
St. Joseph Health has been designated by the state as a vaccination center and welcomes anyone who is eligible for a vaccination here on its website. However, the doses are very limited, and the few doses here have already been allocated. You are still welcome to sign up for future shipments, but there is no timeline left when it will be available.
A distribution operation is planned in the future at the Brazos Center in Bryan, but the plan is still in the works. A dry run is planned for Monday, January 18, but it is currently not open to the public. The province is also providing a phone number that residents can use if they have more questions, transportation to the Brazos Center and a registration portal for residents to register online, BUT those services are not currently available. More information on this will be announced soon.
There are a handful of other distribution sites in Brazos County, including HEB pharmacies, but at the moment there are also no vaccines.
A vaccination clinic COVID-19 is available Saturday, January 16 in Temple for veterans 75 years and older. Click here for more details.
Remember:
- Do not go to a hospital or clinic looking for a vaccine.
- Instead, consult their website for information on the availability of vaccines.
- Call only if the site does not answer your questions.
NOT ENOUGH INSIDE AVAILABLE
Vaccination doses sent from the state are currently limited in the Brazos Valley. Even those who are eligible to receive the vaccine are placed on a waiting list until there is extra stock. Health officials are asking everyone to be patient during the waiting period.
It is unclear when the next shipments will arrive. It is also unclear how much will be sent in the next batch. This is part of the challenge for suppliers because they are setting up a distribution system. Continue monitoring the local vendor web pages and CBTX for up-to-date information on vaccine distribution.
WHO CAN GET AN EXHAUST NOW?
In the state of Texas, health care workers are at the forefront and residents of long-term care facilities (called Phase 1A) plus people older than 65 or with a chronic medical condition who are elevated by COVID-19 (called Phase 1B) are currently eligible for the To receive COVID-19 vaccine.
Phase 1B receivers include:
- People 65 years and older
- People 16 years and older with at least one chronic medical condition who are at risk for serious diseases caused by COVID-19, such as: Cancer Chronic kidney disease COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies Solid organ transplant Obesity and severe (body mass index of 30 kg / m2 or higher) Pregnancy Sickle diseases Type 2 diabetes mellitus
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Who gets the next vaccine after phase 1 and when?
Spring 2021 is the best estimate of when vaccine will be available to the general public, but that may change. It depends on the vaccine production and how quickly other vaccines are available. The Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP) is considering what criteria could be used for later stages of vaccine distribution. This website will be updated as soon as the decisions are completed.
When will teachers, critical infrastructure workers, essential workers and other frontline workers not included in 1A be eligible for the vaccine?
Spring 2021 is the best estimate of when vaccine will be available to the general public that is not considered Phase 1B. No specific occupation or group is specifically identified in 1B; in all occupations, however, there are individuals who meet the 1B criteria. It depends on the vaccine production and how quickly other vaccines are available.
Additional information for educators and school staff is available at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) K-12 COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ.
Should I be vaccinated if I have already recovered from COVID-19?
Yes. Immunity to the COVID-19 vaccine can last longer than the natural immunity you get if you have already had COVID-19.
People who currently have COVID-19 should not be vaccinated while they are sick.
Should everyone be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?
No. Vaccination is voluntary and may not be required as the vaccine is distributed under an emergency authorization (EUA). Once the vaccines are fully licensed, different laws may apply. Either way, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is another way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
CLICK HERE FOR THE STATE’S STAMP VACUUM DISTRIBUTION: Note that this feature may work best on a computer. Health officials also emphasize that the information on this page may be delayed by providing real-time local providers.
How do COVID-19 vaccines differ from other vaccines?
Different types of vaccines can be protected in different ways. But every kind of vaccine works by teaching our bodies how to make cells that elicit an immune response. The immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from infection when the real virus enters our bodies.
There are currently three major types of COVID-19 vaccines undergoing large-scale (Phase 3) clinical trials in the United States:
- mRNA vaccines
- Protein subunit vaccines
- Vector vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines do not use the live virus and can not give you COVID-19. The vaccine does not change your DNA. COVID-19 vaccination will help you create your immune response without having to experience any illness.
Read more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in the How COVID-19 vaccines section of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website.
Why should I take the COVID-19 vaccine?
If you get this vaccine as soon as it is available, it is one step you can take to get the Texas economy and our daily lives back to normal.
How do I know if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?
Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make COVID-19 vaccines available. The new COVID-19 vaccines have been evaluated during tens of thousands of volunteers during clinical trials. The vaccines may only be used if they appear to be safe.
Although they did not find any safety issues during the clinical trials, CDC and other federal partners will continue to monitor the new vaccines. They look for serious side effects (or ‘adverse events’) through the use of vaccine protection systems, such as the new V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker app.
For the most recent information, see the Vaccin Safety section of the CDC website.
For more information on CDC’s new vaccine safety monitoring system, consult the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker section of the CDC website.
The # COVID-19 vaccine does not alter your DNA or genetic makeup, it does not contain a microchip, and unfortunately it does not give you any Spider-Man powers.🕷️🕸️
Side effects are that your immune system responds to the vaccine, which means that the vaccine works. https://t.co/ztMEReUtMs
– Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) 14 January 2021
Who decides how many vaccines Texas gets?
CDC determines how many doses of vaccine Texas will receive each week, based on population. After being notified by the Texas Department of Public Health (DSHS) of the number of doses expected next week, DSHS staff will offer vaccine distribution options to the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP). The panel makes amendments and recommendations to the Health Commissioner, who will make the final decision on the distribution of the week.
Who decides how to distribute the vaccine in Texas?
In Texas, DSHS distributes the vaccine under the auspices of the EVAP, appointed by Health Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt.
How did DSHS decide who to immunize first?
The health commissioner has appointed an EVAP to make recommendations on the allocation of vaccines. This includes identifying groups that need to be vaccinated first. The aim is to best protect vulnerable populations and critical state resources. EVAP has developed vaccine award guidelines (PDF) that provide the basis for the vaccine award process in Texas.
Click here for more questions about the vaccine.
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