In Texas, only health care workers 50 years of age or older and those with certain medical conditions can get the vaccine, according to priority groups. On Thursday and Friday, two counties said they had enough vaccine from a specific batch to offer vaccination to all adults, for a specific two-day event.
One of them was the county of Matagorda. The Matagorda County Fairgrounds has become a vaccine drive.
“We find a lot of vaccines here,” said Mitch Thames, Matagorda County Public Information Officer.
It is the first county-driven vaccine and grew almost overnight.
“(When) we started, it would just be an appointment with 500 shots,” Thames said.
But this allocation tripled in size to 1,500 doses. Therefore, instead of vaccinating certain groups, they can open this two-day event to anyone 16 years of age or older.
“This allowed us to open up to these groups, so to speak, to those over 16. Now, I will tell you, with priority, however, it will be given to those 65 or older,” he said.
While you may wonder how they are able to open it up to everyone, when the state limits who can get it, Thames addressed it.
“This event is being run by the state. This is the National Guard coming down,” Thames said.
Thames says the supply influx is welcome.
“We’ve had a bit of a vaccine desert in the past,” he said.
In fact, he says weeks went by without getting vaccinated.
“Which worried us a bit and we contacted some of our elected officials, but I think that amount that will come to us at this event will make up for a bit of a shortfall, let’s say, in the past,” Thames said.
The Liberty County Emergency Department said something similar. He had previously received a very limited vaccine and then got more and was able to vaccinate anyone aged 18 or over in two places.
To be clear, counties open the vaccine to everyone only at these events, not in general.
Matagorda County is scheduled to vaccinate people Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the fairgrounds at 4522 FM 2668 in Bay City, Texas. You must bring a DNI.
Liberty County has an event Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dayton Community Center for the duration of the vaccine supply.
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