Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has urged state health officials and hospitals to speed up the distribution of his supplies of COVID-19 vaccines in response to a letter from the state’s health commissioner stating that much of the the state’s offer has yet to be administered.
In a tweet Tuesday, Abbott wrote that it was unacceptable that many doses of the vaccine were still “on the shelves of the hospital rather than being given to vulnerable Texans,” adding that Texas “is urging vaccine providers to promptly complete all injections. to give.”
“We get more every week,” he said.
A significant portion of the vaccines distributed in Texas may be on hospital shelves instead of being given to vulnerable Texans
The state is urging vaccine suppliers to quickly provide all injections. We get more every week
Always voluntighttps: https://t.co/jjY0jbEMsx
– Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 29, 2020
His tweet came in response to a letter released by the state’s emergency department from State Commissioner for Public Health John Hellerstedt, who wrote this week that a “significant portion” of the state’s vaccine supply had yet to be distributed.
“We also know that every day that a vaccine is on the shelf is another day that prolongs the pandemic hampering our state’s economy and way of life,” Hellerstedt continued, adding, “We trust you will get your situation much better than we could, so we ask that you take the initiative and aggressively continue to administer all the vaccine doses you have received. ”
.@BuienRadarNL sends all entities that have received #COVID-19 vaccines to urgently vaccinate all willing Phase 1A and then Phase 1B individuals.
“… we are directing all entities that have received a vaccine to administer their entire assignment with all willful speed.” pic.twitter.com/98JqrzvvzK
– Texas Division of Emergency Management (@TDEM) December 24, 2020
The COVID-19 outbreak in Texas is getting worse. State officials on Tuesday reported 26,990 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day total the state has recorded to date, while also setting a record for new hospital admissions one day after the virus.
Health experts have warned that hospital systems across the country could be overburdened in the coming weeks due to an increase in COVID-19 infections due to the holiday season.