Answered your question: Texas COVID-19 vaccine

Editor’s Note: On December 10th, 7:00 pm, KSAT Anchor Isis Romero will host a live stream discussion with a panel of experts from San Antonio Metro Health to provide the most relevant information on vaccines in South Texas. Please adjust here.

possibility vaccine The coronavirus was approved by US health authorities this week and could be distributed nationwide shortly thereafter.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Said on December 2nd The state is initially expected to be vaccinated as many as 1.4 million times, with a second shipment possible in January.

The vaccine developed by Pfizer is expected to be first approved and deployed, followed by another vaccine developed by Moderna. Vaccines are being developed and manufactured at record speeds, and there are still many questions about distribution.

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about coronavirus vaccines arriving in Texas. Do you have any other questions? Please let us know at the prompt below.

What is the first timeline?

The Federal Pharmacy (FDA) Advisory Board is set to review Pfizer’s data on Thursday, December 10, and Moderna’s data on December 17.

If the FDA approves one of the vaccines, another US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Board will meet within a few days to make recommendations on who should be vaccinated. This is the final step before vaccination in the United States.

Abbott Targeting the week of December 14th For Texas to start receiving doses.

Who is the first vaccinated person in Texas?

Healthcare workers will be the first people in Texas to receive a federal-approved vaccine. A State panel separated These first recipients in the healthcare arena are in each hierarchy.

Tier 1

1. Hospital staff working directly with patients who are COVID-19 positive or at high risk for COVID-19. This too:

• Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other support staff (administrative staff, etc.)
• Additional clinical staff to support laboratories, pharmacies, diagnostics and / or rehabilitation services

2. Long-term care staff working directly with vulnerable residents. This too:

• Direct Care Providers for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, and State-Supported Living Centers
• Doctors, nurses, personal care assistants, admins, food service staff

3. An EMS provider engaged in 9-1-1 emergency services such as pre-hospital care and transportation.

4. Home health care workers, including hospice care. Interact directly with vulnerable and high-risk patients.

Tier 2 (depending on whether sufficient dose remains)

1. Outpatient clinic staff interacting with symptomatic patients. This too:

• Doctors, nurses and other support staff (administrative staff, etc.)
• Clinical staff providing diagnostic, laboratory, and / or rehabilitation services
• Non-9-1-1 transport for routine care

2. Direct care staff in independent emergency medical facilities and emergency clinics.

3. Local pharmacy staff who may provide services directly to clients, such as vaccinations and tests for individuals who may have a COVID.

4. Public health and emergency response staff directly involved in COVID testing and vaccination management.

5. The last responder to provide a morgue or death service to the decedent of COVID-19. This too:

• Preservatives and funeral home workers in direct contact with the decedent
• Coroners and other medical certifiers in direct contact with the decedent

6. A school nurse who provides medical care to students and teachers.

How does Texas decide where these first vaccines go?

Supply is limited, Texas Expert Vaccine Assignment Panel Meet regularly to make recommendations to the Health Commission on optimal vaccine allocation.

The panel identifies the first group to be vaccinated to provide maximum protection for vulnerable populations and critical state resources. Some important factors in determining how doses are assigned are:

• Protects healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients and front-line workers at high risk of being infected with the virus.
• When infected with COVID-19, it protects vulnerable populations at high risk of serious illness and death.
• Alleviate health inequality due to factors such as demographics, poverty, insurance status and geography.
• The state also uses scientific evidence and data from epidemiology to determine a balanced approach that takes into account access in urban and rural communities and affected zip codes.

The· The city of San Antonio’s implementation plan includes a fair approach And prioritize marginalized communities that lack access to healthcare services and are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Plan use Office of Equity Atlas and current COVID-19 case and mortality data Prioritize the highest risk population.

Where does the first dose of Bexar County go?

According to the State Department of Health, 224,250 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be shipped to 109 hospitals in 34 counties, Texas, as early as the week of December 14, depending on when the vaccine was approved.

The Week 1 Vaccine Allocation List includes 11 Bexar County Medical Facilities.

University Health System And Wellness 360 UT Health San Antonio You will receive 5,850 doses, the largest vaccine allocation in your local facility.

Christ Santa Rosa-Westover Hills Receives 4,875 doses, the next largest regional allocation in Bexar County. You can see the complete list below.

Who will distribute the vaccine first?

Facilities, organizations, or healthcare providers authorized to possess or administer the vaccine or provide vaccination services are eligible to become COVID-19 vaccinated.

Healthcare provider Must be registered with the state as a COVID-19 vaccine provider Eligible to receive the vaccine. The link to registration is here.

Providers include medical practice, pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, health centers, health departments, correctional facilities, and more.

More than 4,100 providers in more than 225 counties in Texas are registered with the State Health Department, and an additional 2,500 national pharmacy chains in Texas are registered directly with the federal government.

Pharmacies across the United States, such as CVS and Walgreens, will be able to distribute free coronavirus vaccines when supply becomes widespread and publicly available.

Federal health officials said It will probably be after the spring of 2021 as supply will continue to grow. HEB Also announced that they will participate so Federal program For distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.

How much will it cost?

Moderna and Pfizer have each signed a contract with the federal government to provide and provide 100 million rounds of funding.

According to the CDC Vaccine doses purchased in US taxpayers’ dollars are given to Americans free of charge.

However, the vaccine provider can charge someone to administer the shot.

Vaccine providers charge this fee from the patient’s public or private insurance company, or for uninsured patients. Provider Relief Fund of Health Resources Business Bureau.

How is it managed?

Both of the two vaccines awaiting emergency permission require cryopreservation and are given in two doses. According to the CDC.

Patients receiving the Pfizer vaccine will be given a second dose every 21 days, and the Moderna vaccine will be given every 28 days.

by San Antonio Metro Health Patients should be vaccinated with the same vaccine at both doses.

Healthcare providers need to keep track of which vaccines patients receive and when.

That information will be entered in the state registry It is called the vaccination information system.

This system gives patients the flexibility to receive doses from different healthcare providers as long as they are in the same condition.

Initial vaccines may only be approved for use in adults.

What is included in the vaccine? Are there any side effects?

Current coronavirus vaccines focus on mRNA or messenger RNA in the body.

It does not inject live viruses into your body, According to local infectious disease expert Dr. Ruth Berggren With UT Health San Antonio.

“That is, think of it as follows: The messenger mRNA finds these 3D printers in the cell. And the mRNA has a code, and what kind of protein you want to make in the 3D printer. And in this case, the mRNA tells the 3D printer to make a protein that looks exactly like the pointed one outside the COVID virus, “Berggren recently told KSAT. “Now you can teach some of your cells to others how to fight enemies that look like that.”

Berggren also said that injecting mRNA into the body has no effect on DNA.

“The infused mRNA isn’t hanging around. It goes in, tells the 3D printing machine what to do, and it puts it out. Your own cells behave like Pac-Man, destroying the mRNA. But that’s only after the message has been delivered, “she said.

Side effects are similar to flu shots. “You can expect local pain. You may feel a little red and a little warmth. You may feel pain. You may have a slight fever,” Berggren said. “These symptoms are expected to last within 24 or 48 hours.”

Most side effects of the vaccine will be apparent within about six weeks, according to Berggren, but health officials said, “The vaccine has been in clinical trials for several months, with unusual or strange reactions. I’m confident because I can’t see it. There could be one in a million rare individuals, where something more serious happens because of something strange in the immune system, but this happened. If you already have good safety data that will be very rare. “

Read more reports from KSAT vaccine Less than:

HEB is preparing for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine

Texas will receive 1.4 million COVID-19 vaccines, Governor says

What will happen locally when the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available?Metro Health discusses plans

Governor Greg Abbott says the COVID-19 vaccine goes to healthcare professionals and the vulnerable Texans go first

Who first receives the COVID-19 vaccine and how is it distributed?

What is included in the coronavirus vaccine? And how can it be affected after it is obtained?