The number of Texans receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is increasing by thousands every day, but that comes with frustration and long waits for some.
Tarrant County processes about 160 people every hour at a clinic that runs near the Interstate 35W junction with Interstate 20.
NBC5 heard from viewers waiting in line until four on Monday for their vaccine and others who received a ‘rain check’ despite an appointment and were asked to return the next day.
Those waiting in Tarrant County are expected to register through the county website and schedule an appointment, but Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley said some people just showed up to receive a vaccine without an appointment, and that led to longer queues and confusion.
The first people to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will receive a second dose this week, while other eligible North Texans continue to line up for their turn. NBC 5’s Ben Russell explains the latter.
Whitley said the county is working to make the process smoother for everyone and is currently reviewing other potential clinic sites.
“People found that we were giving vaccinations to those in 1B and it opened up and they just rushed to wherever they could find it being given,” Whitley said.
Brian Murnahan, spokesman for Tarrant County Public Health, said anyone unable to stand for long periods of time can notify staff at the front of the line and arrangements will be made.
As of Monday, more than 100,000 people have applied to be vaccinated through Tarrant County.
Whitley expected 1,600 people to be vaccinated on Monday and another 1,500 people on Tuesday with even more loads of vaccine on the way.
While Tarrant County has been able to vaccinate more people than surrounding counties, not all public health departments have the same options.
A Dallas County spokesman said they only have enough vaccines left to give priority to emergency responders, but expect a shipment of vaccines from the state this week. As of Monday morning, about 37,000 people have pre-registered through the Dallas County website to receive the vaccine as soon as it becomes available.
Denton County Public Health vaccinated about 450 people at a drive-thru clinic Monday morning, but the registration is now closed because the vaccines have run out.
The county’s health departments insist that only people who fall under the official category of either Stage 1A or Stage 1B, according to criteria set by the state of Texas, are eligible for the vaccine.
People who fall under the Stage 1A category include medical professionals and those who live or work in long-term care facilities.
People who fall under the Stage 1B category include anyone who is at least 65 years old or anyone who is at least 16 years old and lives with one of several chronic health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
Also starting Monday, some of the first health professionals to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will receive their second and final dose.
At 7 a.m. Monday, medical professionals at Methodist Dallas would receive the second dose of the vaccine, exactly three weeks after they received the first dose.
* Map locations are approximate central locations for the city and are not intended to indicate where actually infected people live.
** The district totals below include all 32 North Texas counties, not just Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant.