Dallas County residents who qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine in stages 1A and 1B can register online to be vaccinated, the county health department announced Saturday.
The online registration and pre-screening is for people who need to be vaccinated through Dallas County Health and Human Services, not all health care providers in the county.
Health officials said the supply of vaccines on Saturday was limited, but they expected more doses “in the coming weeks and months.”
“Currently, this DCHHS site will enroll only Dallas County residents and will give priority within 1B to those with the highest vulnerability scores until more vaccine is available,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a statement. “In the meantime, we are working with the DFW Hospital Council and others to increase fair and rapid vaccinations across the country.”
Click here to register and find out more information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Stages 1A and 1B are determined by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“As more vaccines become available, we will go through the registration list and determine if we qualify. We hope to receive additional allocations from the state soon so that we can continue to work with our partners and begin meeting the needs of our community and turning the corner in the fight against this virus, ”Dallas County Health and Director. Human Services Dr. Philip Huang said in a statement.
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines continued across the state and the country over the weekend as health leaders worked to inoculate as many willing and qualified people in line as possible.
Efforts to vaccinate first responders resumed Saturday at the Kay Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. This week, the city began widespread vaccinations for emergency responders from Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department, and Dallas City Marshals after receiving 2,000 doses of the state’s Moderna vaccine.
“Right now, as we go through the rollout process, we’re learning how to do it perfectly,” said Dallas Fire Chief Dominique Artis. “This is the beginning of getting out of this dark tunnel. We can see the light. We’re just trying to get to the light now. “
Department spokesman Jason Evans said they expected to complete the first assignment by Tuesday or Wednesday. There have been no significant operational challenges to date, Evans said.
“We administered these to primary care workers in group 1A. So we don’t have a vaccine at the moment, ”said Jenkins. “We still have 1A’s to get, but we’re trying to set up a system so that it can also be opened up to 1B.”
In Dallas County, the DCHHS assignment is not open to people considered to be part of the “1B” group, which includes those 65 and older, plus 16 and older with at least one chronic health condition. However, some entities, such as certain hospitals and doctor’s offices, have already started offering vaccines to those in the 1B group.
When broad access for 1B will be available through the county is difficult to estimate at this point, Jenkins said.
It depends on the size of the allocation. This will continuously improve. CVS, Walgreens and others don’t yet have the capabilities to get the 1Bs off the street, but it will soon, “he said. There will be those chances of getting 1B. I hope this weekend or maybe Monday that Dallas County Health and Human Services will set up a website so you can join us on a waiting list. “
Going on, he said he believed better communication was needed between the state and hospitals. For now, he is urging people to remain vigilant with the COVID-19 protocols and be patient as vaccination efforts increase.
“It doesn’t mean we have to be patient and wait on the couch for someone else, but we have to be patient and realize you’re trying to give your grandmother a chance, but 30 million Texans are trying to give their grandmother a chance. , ‘he said.
* 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.