Texas working on final decision on COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan

Houston – Awaiting approval from the Texas Food and Drug Administration, we plan to receive 1.4 million COVID-19 vaccines by the week of December 14. State health officials said these vaccines would be distributed to hospital systems throughout the state.

“We know we have staff here. We have medical staff in one place and can start vaccination of many people at once,” said Chris Van Deusen of the State Department of Health Services.

Van Deusen said Texas is expected to follow the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, giving healthcare professionals the first dose, and then closely following nursing home residents and staff. Van Deusen said the state estimates that it has 1.6 million health workers. Although not tracking the exact census, the Texas Health and Welfare Committee estimates that there are 90,000 nursing home residents.

“When can we expect Texas to start receiving higher doses?” Asked KPRC investigator Robert Arnold.

“This is the December allocation, which happens on an ongoing basis every week,” says Van Deusen. “The CDC will notify you weekly about how many doses you will take next week.”

From there the state Expert Vaccine Assignment Panel Determine where the dose goes.Frontline workers, those who are important to the economy, and those who are at high risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 are: line..

Meanwhile, the hospital system has finalized plans to vaccinate staff.

Dr. James McDavid, Clinic Director at Baylor College of Medicine, said:

McDeavitt said the process needs to be staggered among 14,000 employees, medical students, and nursing home residents. McDeavitt said some people who are expected to get the vaccine will experience symptoms.

“After being vaccinated, you may have some pain and a low-grade fever, which is a symptom,” McDavid said. “Not everyone has a symptom that could be a symptom of COVID-19 by staggering this for a period of time.”

McDeavitt estimates that the vaccine will be generally available in April or May.

“Nothing changes today. We still need to hide, distance, and maintain other people’s skepticism so that you think others may be infected. Yes, avoid crowded indoor spaces, “says McDeavitt.

Pfizer’s vaccine is expected to be first granted an emergency license by the FDA, followed by Modena’s vaccine. Pfizer vaccines should be stored at sub-zero temperatures. Healthcare providers need to provide the federal government with a freezer serial number in order for vaccines to be properly stored, McDavid said.

Van Deusen said test runs have already been done to ensure that the shipping process is working properly.

“Just ship the item and make sure it arrives at the right temperature and time. It’s a Pfizer vaccine that needs to be stored at ultra-low temperatures, so it should be shipped close to 100 degrees below freezing,” Van Deusen said. Mr. says.

According to Van Deusen, the Moderna vaccine also needs to be shipped frozen. It can survive in a refrigerated setting for up to 30 days.

“Moderna vaccines are much more flexible in where in the state the vaccine can be sent,” Van Deusen said. “We expect to use it in smaller communities, smaller providers and more rural areas to ensure coverage of the entire state.”

These initial vaccines also need to be given twice. When a person receives the first dose, they get a paper shot record of the vaccine they received and when to return to the second dose. The person’s name is also entered in the state vaccination registry. This is important for tracking the vaccines a person receives.

“They can look it up and find out.’Okay, you have to get Pfizer first and get Pfizer a second time.'”

Other manufacturers such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are also working on vaccines.