Houston’s high-rise luxury faces questions after some tenants had access to the vaccine

HOUSTON – While people are waiting to get the COVID-19 vaccine, a big luxury hike in Houston faces questions about how some of its tenants were given access to the shots.

A Montebello website says the condo building near the Gallery is “one of Houston’s top luxury cars,” with units that can be sold for millions of dollars. The questions are not about the listings, but COVID-19 vaccines.

About 60 residents received the vaccine this week, prompting a Daily Beast article to ask, “Why did this turbulent Houston tourism get vaccines ahead of most people?”

The article quoted CEO Daniel Hancock as saying, “We’re working with a distributor …”

Hancock was not going to camera with KPRC 2, but said outside the camera that the building did not insure vaccines, a provider did. He said the provider previously offered flu vaccines to residents here and offered the vaccine after receiving doses.

An authorized supplier gave these photos to people in Group 1B (specifically 65 years or older), as expressly encouraged by the State of Texas. I understand that many other high-rise buildings with similar populations also received vaccines designated for group 1B, ”he said in a written statement.

A resident who received the shooting said most people living in Montebello are elderly and, given their age, do not want to get COVID.

Hancock said the provider also offered the vaccines to other buildings. The manager said the supplier is on the state’s list of vaccine recipients, but would not name the supplier, so KPRC 2 was unable to check or contact the supplier.