Texas officials are concerned about COVID-19 vaccines as the numbers deteriorate

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Top officials in Texas again urged health care providers to give more coronavirus vaccines Tuesday, the same day the state reported that the percentage of Texans whose coronavirus tests come back positive has reached levels not seen since a summer wave of cases affecting some hospitals overwhelmed.

The state reported on Tuesday that 163,700 Texans had been vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine. According to the Department of State Health Services, about 1.2 million doses have been assigned to health care providers statewide during the first three weeks since their arrival.

“A significant portion of the vaccines distributed in Texas may be on the shelves of hospitals rather than being given to vulnerable Texans,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. said in a tweet Tuesday night.

That tweet came after health officials asked providers who received doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to “vaccinate immediately” all eligible Texans, including people 65 and older and those who are at least 16 years old with a qualifying medical condition. That renewed impetus echoed a statement sent to providers last week by Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of Texas DSHS, instructing them to “manage their entire allocation with all willful speed.”

“Dr. Hellerstedt released that statement today to make it clear to all health care providers that people over 65 and those with medical conditions that pose a greater risk of serious death from COVID-19 are now eligible for vaccination,” said spokesman Douglas Loveday. “The supply of vaccines remains limited, but more vaccines will be delivered to suppliers every week. It will take time to vaccinate everyone in those priority groups.”

Texas officials’ pressure for suppliers to administer more vaccines comes as The seven-day mean COVID-19 positivity rate in Texas has stayed above 15% for a week, according to data released by the state on Tuesday. And that sustained rise in the rate comes a day after the state reported that a record number of Texans had been hospitalized with the virus.

“As a result, we can expect a rising rise in the number of cases in the coming weeks, and not far behind the rise in the number of cases will be an increase in hospital admissions and possible fatalities,” said Angela Clendenin, an epidemiologist and biostatistician at Texas A&M University. School of Public Health.

Clendenin said the rising positivity rate is likely due in part to a greater number of tests among people who are asymptomatic and those with only mild symptoms.

On Tuesday, the state reported that 17.15% of molecular coronavirus tests came back as confirmed cases in the past seven days. The seven-day average positivity rate has remained above 15% since December 22.

Abbott said in May that a sustained positivity rate of more than 10% was cause for concern.

“If the positivity test rate is over 10%, that’s one of those red flags we’re starting to look at,” Abbott said at a May 5 press conference.

But in recent months, Abbott has repeatedly renounced new shutdowns. Instead, he pointed to a statewide mask mandate that remains in effect and certain occupancy reductions that are triggered when the proportion of COVID-19 patients in a region exceeds 15% of hospital capacity for seven days. An analysis from the Texas Tribune found that those restrictions did little to alleviate the worst affected health care systems in areas most affected by the virus.

“Government Abbott continues to rely on the data-driven hospital admission statistics used by physicians and medical experts to inform and guide the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce COVID-19,” said spokesman Renae Eze. As the number of hospital admissions increases, the State of Texas is working closely with local officials to quickly provide the resources needed to address these spikes and keep Texans safe, including rising medical personnel and supplies. ”

In September, the Texas DSHS began publishing a new version of the state’s positivity rate. It takes into account the date a test was administered, not when it was reported. That change in reporting revealed that the proportion of people receiving positive test results in the spring was higher than originally announced.

The rising positivity rate in Texas is the latest in a string of statistics worrying public health experts, especially in the middle of the holiday season, that an already spreading virus could worsen.

On Monday, the state reported that more Texans had been hospitalized with the virus than ever during the pandemic. And earlier this month, the state’s supply of available intensive care beds fell to its all-time low. There were 11,775 people in hospitals and 653 available IC beds on Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, Texas began vaccinating primary care health workers, nursing home residents and staff, which was an important first step in the fight against the coronavirus. But experts estimate it will take between six and nine months for the COVID-19 vaccine to be widely available.

“Where we are today it is more important than ever to remain extra vigilant about physical distance, wearing a mask, good hand hygiene, and avoiding non-essential travel and meetings with others outside of our household until the vaccine is widely available and a significant number of people are being vaccinated, ”said Clendenin.

Mandi Cai contributed to this story.

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