Houston’s first COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru opens

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Set against the backdrop of a milestone in the city’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday offered a grim track record, reminding us of the urgent need to get vaccines expand to high-risk residents.

The 3,039 new cases reported by Turner are the most recorded for one day in the city during the pandemic.

However, there are some conditions attached to the statistics. According to Turner, the number stems from an adjustment of cases from the past three days.

Still, the city has more than 148,500 cases of the corona virus so far. Houston’s positivity rate is 17%.

The city’s first drive-thru vaccination site

With a numerical reminder of the virus’s impact on the city, Turner and other city leaders ushered in Houston’s first drive-thru vaccination site at Del Mar Stadium, where 1,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine were assigned.

Turner added that the Houston Health Department received an additional 9,000 doses last Friday.

“Our work to vaccinate as many people as possible (is) based on the supply. I know there is a lot of concern in the community because people are afraid they won’t be able to make an appointment. We know that the demand is greater than the supply of vaccines. ., ‘Said Turner.

The drive-thru site is in partnership with United Memorial Medical Center. People considered in high-risk phase 1A and 1B were eligible for the vaccinations by appointment.

“As we get more vaccines, we will expand partnerships with pharmacies and federally qualified health centers to ensure the vaccine is available in the most vulnerable communities and deploy mobile strike teams as needed,” added Turner.