Texas expanding vaccine eligibility to all adults beginning Monday

Jennifer Lira, left, a childcare specialist in the Spring Branch Independent School District, receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination shot from nurse Carolyn Roy during a vaccination drive for education workers Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jennifer Lira, left, a childcare specialist in the Spring Branch Independent School District, receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination shot from nurse Carolyn Roy during a vaccination drive for education workers Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

TEXARKANA, Texas - All adults will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, the Department of State Health Services announced Tuesday.

The state's Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations, according to officials.

Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell welcomed the news.

"I think that's great. As long as we have a supply of vaccine, then we have the ability to get them out in Bowie County," he said, complimenting efforts at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, a state-designated rural vaccination hub, as well as at the county Health Department.

"And then you combine that with the pharmacies that have received various amounts of doses, we've done a good job in Bowie County," he said.

The state has allocated 36,770 doses of coronavirus vaccine to Bowie County over the past 15 weeks, including 4,540 doses this week, Fire Chief Eric Schlotter told the City Council on Monday.

DSHS has directed vaccine providers to prioritize people 80 years old or older when scheduling appointments and accommodate anyone in that age group who presents for vaccination, whether or not they have an appointment, by immediately moving them to the front of the line.

"We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases," said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. "As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize people who are the most at risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death - such as older adults."

Also next week, DSHS will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers, as well as a toll-free phone number to help making an appointment with a participating provider or locating another provider that has vaccine available.

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