This good news comes even as it is confirmed that COVID-19 variants found in South Africa and the United Kingdom are located in the Greater Houston area.
The Houston Health Department said the two cases of the British variant were both men in their 50s. One of them traveled abroad in late December and early January, while travel information on the other case was not immediately disclosed. One of the men is in hospital.
Meanwhile, Houstonians who scoured the internet for vaccine dates got good news Monday.
Buzz Bellmont, 65, was able to sign himself and his husband up on the Sam’s Club pharmacy website after days of trying.
“I (search) online like I do every day,” said Bellmont. “(Monday) was the first day I got through and I got my husband and I appointments for Friday.”
That information about the Sam’s Club was quickly posted by Laurie DesAutels, who created an open Vaccinate Houston Facebook page as a sort of clearinghouse for the various links out there to get hookups.
“Many members are like me, who have a mother and a grandmother, and they want to enroll them,” said DesAutels, who has a background in computer work and focuses on the project as a kind of community. maintenance. “I’ve enjoyed being a computer geek for years. So for me it’s going to be Texas Strong and Houston Strong again, helping each other out.”
In addition to Sam’s Club, a number of other pharmacies in our area are expected to offer appointments starting this week. For example, CVS is expected to start on Thursday with open enrollment and vaccination appointments from Friday.
Those currently eligible for a vaccine are also encouraged to check availability with Kroger, Walgreens, HEB, Walmart and Randalls.
Signing up for vaccines among qualified individuals is important because health officials say the UK variant is likely to spread in our community.
“We have to assume that the British variant is spreading in our city,” the health department tweeted, recalling that the variant does not necessarily make people sicker. “The vaccines appear to be effective against the UK variant, but it will be months before enough people are vaccinated to make a difference.”
Last month, Harris County, of which Houston is a part, identified the first case of the British variant.
As for the South African variant, the City of Houston’s regular briefing on the coronavirus received a visit from Fort Bend County health director Dr. Jacqueline Minter, who confirmed that a resident from her country was confirmed for the species. The male who became ill from the variant has recovered.
And despite a bit of bad luck in the city’s attempt to vaccinate as many people as possible now, officials don’t expect additional appointments for the vaccines.
As for vaccines, there is still not enough supply to meet demand. The @BuienRadarNL continues to prioritize the vaccine supply of people most likely to die of COVID-19 and disadvantaged communities.
– Houston Mayor’s Office (@houmayor) February 8, 2021
Turner originally planned to use his Monday coronavirus briefing to ask local hospitals to share their stock of state vaccines with local health departments and the Harris Health System, so that more minorities have a chance to get the photos.
WATCH: Houston identifies 1st COVID-19 cases with UK variant
He said at this point that African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians are not being vaccinated at nearly the same rate as white residents, and he said he wants that to change, especially after noticing minority death rates.
The City of Houston Health Department said Hispanics are responsible for 55% of COVID-19 deaths, compared to 21% of blacks, 18% of whites, and 5.5% of Asians.
CDC data across the country shows that, compared to Caucasians, Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to get COVID-19, four times more likely to end up in the hospital, and nearly three times more likely to die .
A University of Houston study found that one-third of Texans are likely to refuse a COVID-19 vaccine, and that reticence is especially true in communities of color.
SEE RELATED STORY: New Figures Show Black Spanish Communities Are Undervaccinated
Turner said more than 88% of the vaccines Harris Health receives currently go to people of color, so he goes to private hospitals to share their doses.
SEE RELATED: How Access Coupled With Mistrust Affects The Spanish Communities Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine
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